Taphonomy, pathology, and paleoecology of the terminal Pleistocene Marmes Rockshelter (45FR50) 'big elk' (Cervus elaphus), southeastern Washington State, USA

In 1968, remains of what were reported lo be a larger-than-modern elk (Cervus elaphus) were recovered From terminal Pleistocene sediments associated with the Marmes Rockshelter archaeological site in southeastern Washington State. Originally thought to have been butchered by humans, it is associated with radiocarbon dates suggesting an age of about 9800 [sup.14]C years B.P. Taphonomic analysis in 2009 indicates the elk likely died of natural causes during winter months; it was lightly scavenged by carnivores prior to burial from silt-rich spring runoff. The elk suffered from two pathological conditions: one resulting in fusion of the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae, and the other resulting in excessive bone tissue on the proximal ends of the first ribs, seventh cervical, and first and second thoracic vertebrae. The Marmes elk is larger than modern Rocky Mountain elk (C. e, nelsoni) and is on the large end of the size range of modern Roosevelt elk (C. e. roosevelti). It is also larger than the similarly aged elk skeleton from Three Hills, Alberta. A single elk bone from the Sentinel Gap archaeological site in central Washington State, dated to about 10 200 [sup.14]C years BP and located 130 km west of Marmes Rockshelter, is the same size as the same bone of the Marmes elk. Terminal Pleistocene elk in eastern Washington likely grew lo exceptionally large size as a result of abundant grass at the lime, forage that decreased in abundance as Holocene climatic conditions developed. En 1968, des restes alors attribues a un wapiti plus grand que le wapiti moderne (Cervus elaphus) ont ete preleves dans des sediments du Pleistocene terminal associes au site archeologique de Marmes Rockshelter, du sud-est de l'Etat de Washington. Interpretes alors eomme ayant ete depeces par des humains, ces restes sont associes a des dates radiocarbone qui suggerent un age d'environ 9 800 ans [sup.14]C BP. Une analyse laphonomique realisee en 2009 indique que le wapiti est probablement mort de causes naturelles duranl les mois d'hiver el que sa carcasse a ele enlamee par des carnivores avant d'etre enfouie sous du limon iransporte par le ruissellement printanier. L'animal souffrail de deux pathologies, dont une a enframe la fusion des quatrieme et cinquieme vertebres cervicales et l'autre, un exces de tissus osseux stir les extremites proximales des premieres cotes, de la septieme vertebre cervicale et des premiere et deuxieme vertebres thoraciques. Le wapiti de Marmes est plus imposant que le wapiti des montagnes Rocheuses moderne (C. e. nelsoni) et occupe la partie superieure du spectre de dimensions du wapiti de Roosevelt moderne (C. e. roosevelti). II est egalement plus grand que le squelette de wapiti du meme age de Three Hills (Alberta). Un os isole ayant donne une date radiocarbone d'environ 10 200 ans [sup.14]C BP provenant du site archeologique de Sentinel Gap, dans le centre de l'Etat de Washington, a 130 km a 1'ouest du site de Marmes Rockshelter, est de la meme taille que le meme os du wapiti de Marmes. Les wapitis du Pleistocene terminal de l'est de l'Etat de Washington atteignaient vraisemblablement des tallies imposantes en raison de 1'abondance de 1'herbe a cetie epoque, abondance qui allait diminuer par la suite en raison des conditions climaiiques caracleristiques de 1'Holocene. [Traduit par la Redaction]
Introduction Initially excavated in 1962-64, the archaeological site known as Marmes Rockshelter (official state site number: 45FR50) in southeastern Washington State came to national attention in 1968 when some of [...]