Small mammals from Palaeolithic sites of the Crimea

Studies have included several thousand small mammal bone remains recovered from seven multi-layered Palaeolithic sites in the Crimea, providing the basis for reconstructions of environments at different stages of human habitation. The oldest finds of small mammals are attributed to the last interglacial, and the youngest to the Denekamp (Bryansk) interstadial. More than 20 species of small mammals have been identified, which permitted recognition of specific features of faunal assemblages differing in age. The faunas display a certain stability of species composition over a period of almost 100,000 years. No species typical of cold environments have been found, and the faunas are dominated by open landscape dwellers. Forest and near water species are present in small quantities. Some mammals identified in the sites do not occur in the Crimea at present. On the other hand, a number of species inhabiting the Crimea today have not been found in the fossil assemblages. On the whole, the Mountain Crimea was a refugium for mammals, and possibly also for other organisms, during the last glaciation. Due to its southern position, the Crimea retained rather comfortable environmental and climate conditions throughout the Late Pleistocene. Similarly, the environments were undoubtedly hospitable for humans.