Cervidae and Tayassuidae from the Holocene deposits of the Cuvieri Cave, State of Minas Gerais, eastern Brazil; taxonomic and paleoenvironmental considerations

Author(s)

Chahud, Artur ^[1] ; Okumura, Mercedes ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biosci, Dept Genet & Evolutionary Biol, Lab Human Evolutionary Studies, Rua Matao 277, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: HISTORICAL BIOLOGY; JAN 2022.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Caves have been acting as natural traps for numerous groups of animals and, due to their relatively stable environmental conditions, preservation of faunal remains is usually good. In the Holocene, the nature of the depositional system of the Cuvieri Cave allowed the preservation of osteological material that was seldom altered or remobilised, resulting in an important record of environmental events and changes in faunal composition. Deer represents the most abundant family of macrovertebrates that have been found at the Cuvieri Cave, including two species: Mazama americana and Mazama cf. gouazoubira. The Tayassuidae are represented by two species Tayassu pecari and Pecari tajacu, the first occurring only in deposits attributed to the beginning of the Holocene, while P. tajacu also occurs in the Middle and Late Holocene. The presence of human groups in the region occurred in two periods, and while it was present there was the presence of Mazama americana, typical of forest environments. However, the species Pecari tajacu was recorded during the period that the region was not inhabited. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/23282-5 - Change and continuity in prehistoric human groups from Ribeira de Iguape Valley (São Paulo and Paraná): applying evolutionary theory to bioarchaeology and material culture
• Grantee: Maria Mercedes Martinez Okumura
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants