Radiocarbon dating of the marmot fossil remains from Strashnaya cave (Northwest Altai)

During the current phase of archaeological research at the Strashnaya cave (North-Western Altai) marmot bones samples from all stratigraphic layers of the cave were taken for radiocarbon dating. As a result, 21 radiocarbon dates were obtained. Most of the dates correlate with MIS 2, and fit the time interval 17-19 kyr BP. The other dates correspond to the MIS 3. The paleontological and palynological data confirm the existence of favorable conditions for the marmot populations during the formation of top part of Late Pleistocene sediments. At this time, mountain steppes, semi-desert, forest-tundra landscapes in the vicinity of the cave dominated. It allows us to correlate the presence of numerous marmot bones in cave deposits with this period.