The preliminary results of megafauna remains study from Strashnaya cave (Northern-Western Altai)

The taphocoenosis of Strashnaya cave was formed as a result of feeding activity of carnivores and birds, and only to a small extent - the ancient man. As a result of intense burrow activities of marmots, cave deposits are heavily disturbed. There were no significant changes in the composition of the Pleistocene megafauna if to compare by separate layers. In general, it can be characterized as fauna of open landscapes (steppes). Anyway, there were small forest areas, confined to the river valleys and mountain gorges, that formed the mosaic landscapes. The most interesting paleontological finds are 33 residues of porcupine bones (Hystrix brachyura vinogradovi), including teeth, and elements of postcranial skeleton; isolated teeth of cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) and Kyakhtinsky Capra (Spirocerus kiakhtensis). In the layer 2 it was found a tooth fragment of a bison (Bison priscus) or perhaps tour (Bos primigenius) showing a typical Holocene preservation of the bone surface. This indicates the existence of a refugium in Altai, where a population of large wild bulls could persist until the late Holocene.