Sample name: Venta Micena 4-I

Sample aka: VM4-I

Reference: J. Yravedra, C. Luzon, J. A. Solano, G. J. Linares-Matas, V. Estaca-Gomez, J. J. Rodriguez-Alba, L. A. Courtenay, D. Herranz-Rodrigo, A. Serrano-Ramos, J. Camara, J. Saarinen, C. Sanchez-Bandera, H. A. Blain, S. Viranta-Kovanen, D. DeMiguel, B. Azanza, O. Oms, J. Agusti, M. Fortelius, and J. M. J. Arenas. 2023. To den or not to den. Contributions to the taphonomic history of the Early Pleistocene site of Venta Micena 4 (Orce, Guadix-Baza Basin). Quaternary Science Reviews 308(108031):1-22 [ER 3894]

Lithology: limestone

Taphonomic context: carnivore accumulation,lake deposit

Habitat comments: "VM4 would have been located near the edge of a lacustrine environment centered around the relatively large and saline endorheic Baza lake"

VM4-I is situated below VM4II in Interval C1 of Venta Micena's Unit C within micritic limestone of palustrine and lacustrine origin

Tooth marks are present on 4.4% of well-preserved bones at VM4-I with only 5% of marked bones exhibiting >5 tooth marks per bone

Weathering alterations are scarce, implying low levels of subaerial exposure

Evidenced by tooth marks, bone breakage patterns, and other taphonomic evidence it is probable that VM4 represents an open-air site where "multiple carnivores interacted with herbivore carcasses", mainly felids, hyaenids, and possibly canids

The assemblage is not thought to be accumulated as the result of activity by one particular taxon, but rather through the input of "multiple agents"

Taphonomic research is still ongoing as is the debate on accumulation at Venta Micena 4

Life forms: carnivores,ungulates,other small mammals,birds,turtles

Sampling methods: quarry

Sample size: 368 specimens

Sampling comments: 39 m squared has been excavated over seven field seasons: 2005, 2013-15, and 2017-19

VM4-I consists of 1732 faunal remains

Counts excluded:
Cervidae
Bovidae - 23
Canidae - 13
Felidae - 4
Carnivora - 12

Sample number: 4281

Contributor: Jack Nesbitt

Enterer: Jack Nesbitt

Created: 2023-05-23 16:39:16

Modified: 2023-05-24 00:44:42