Multidisciplinary studies ofthe Baraba mammoth refugium in 2015

Results of the paleontological, stratigraphic and geoarchaeological research are reported for one of the youngest and southernmost mammoth refugiums of Eurasia located in the Baraba lowland (the south of Western Siberia). In 2015, main investigated objects were sites Volchya Griva and Novodubrovskoye, which were Late Glacial beast solonetz. During the excavation on Volchya Griva (~ 18 - 11 ka BP), 19 horse remains and over 600 fragments and intact bones and teeth of mammoths were discovered on the area of 12 m ; this is the largest local concentration in situ for this species in Asia. Within the bone-bearing horizon (of ~ 0.15 - 0.45 m in thickness), 11 artefacts were found, which were mainly represented by the siliceous siltstone blade fragments. The low rate of sedimentation accounts for the rare occurrence of the anatomical articulation, fragmentariness and intensified weathering of the most part of bones. The steep bedding (up to 30° and more) of a part of ribs and long bones (many are crushed) in mammoths testifies that they were trampled into the moist clayey soil by their living congeners and other large mammals. The exploring excavations in No-vodubrovskoye on the area of 26 m discovered the relatively poor bone-bearing horizon, within which 55 mammalian remains were found, in addition 15 fragments and intact bones were uncovered in test pits and trenches. In spite of the low concentration, a quite wide taxonomic composition of vertebrates was represented within this burial: Equus sp., Bison sp., Mammuthus primigenius, Coe-lodonta antiquitatis, deer (?), carnivores, small rodents and birds. The weak weathering of bone surfaces suggests that the majority of animal fossil remains may be trampled into mud. This is evidenced by crushed long and flat bones, and the steep bedding (up to 90°) of separate fragments. The accumulation of mammoth fauna on the beast solonetz in the end of the Pleistocene results from the mineral starvation. Lithophagy was the main reason for animal visiting Volchya Griva and Novodubrovskoye sites. During mineral deficiency peaks, being geochemical landscapes of the Ca-Na class, they became the unique mineral oases of the Baraba refugium. The chronic geochemical stress of mammoths is proved by the studies of this species remains found during excavations of Volchya Griva in 2015. At least 40 % of them seem to have pathologic changes. Mass mortality and the burial of mammoths and other large mammals on the described mineral oases was going on within the mud-baths and was not directly connected with the activity of the Paleolithic Man.

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