A mid-holocene fauna from Bear Den Cave, Sequoia National Park, California

Bulletin, Southern California Academy of Sciences
By: , and 

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Abstract

Test excavation of floor fill deposits in the first room in Bear Den Cave, Sequoia National Park, produced fossiliferous sediments down to at least 40 cm depth. Radiocarbon analysis of charcoal from this layer indicates an early-middle Holocene age of 7220 CAL BP. The fossil accumulation represents prey recovered from generations of ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) dung. Microvertebrate remains include salamanders, lizards, snakes, and mammals. The recovery of Aneides ferreus/vagransfrom early-middle Holocene deposits in Bear Den Cave is a first for this species group. Equally interesting is the recovery of Plethodon sp. Neither taxa live in the Sierra Nevada today. The fossil-rich deposits of Bear Den Cave indicate that future paleoecological studies will be productive in Sequoia National Park.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title A mid-holocene fauna from Bear Den Cave, Sequoia National Park, California
Series title Bulletin, Southern California Academy of Sciences
DOI 10.3160/0038-3872(2006)105[43:AMFFBD]2.0.CO;2
Volume 105
Issue 2
Year Published 2006
Language English
Publisher Southern California Academy of Sciences
Contributing office(s) Western Ecological Research Center
Description 16 p.
First page 43
Last page 58
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial Bear Den Cave, Sequoia National Park
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