caa a22 4500 605448787 CHVBK 20210128100138.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20151201xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s10437-015-9206-7 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s10437-015-9206-7 Pleistocene Micromammals and Their Predators at Wonderwerk Cave, South Africa [Elektronische Daten] [Yolanda Fernandez-Jalvo, D. Avery] Les micromammifères du Pléistocène et leurs prédateurs. Grotte de Wonderwerk, Afrique du Sud Wonderwerk Cave has produced exceptionally large micromammalian samples that provides a range of information pertaining to taphonomy, and prey-predator ecology, which will improve the precision of environmental interpretation. Here, we examine these aspects for mid-Pleistocene strata 12 and 11, and conclude from the taphonomic evidence that the main predator responsible for the small mammal assemblages in the two lower-most strata at the site, was a category 1 predator, likely the barn owl Tyto alba. There is some slight influence of another predator in stratum 12 but this evidence is insufficient to significantly modify the taphonomic indication from the major predator. Differential horizontal and vertical distribution of prey skeletal remains within these strata indicates that there could have been two main roost areas, and that the predators occupied the cave seasonally, more intensively at times of good food availability under relatively benign conditions, and more ephemerally during harsher times. At present, this line of evidence does not provide any indication of the duration and nature of either conditions. Indications of exposure to fire have been distinguished in the microfaunal remains, with bones exhibiting calcination as well as being restricted spatially. None of these traits apparently fit with natural fires. Further modern comparative work will be required to develop a better understanding of those aspects related to fire. Springer Science+Business Media New York, 2015 Wonderwerk nationallicence Pleistocene nationallicence Micromammals nationallicence Taphonomy nationallicence Fernandez-Jalvo Yolanda Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain aut Avery D. Iziko Museums of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa aut African Archaeological Review Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 32/4(2015-12-01), 751-791 0263-0338 32:4<751 2015 32 10437 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10437-015-9206-7 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10437-015-9206-7 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Fernandez-Jalvo Yolanda Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Avery D. Iziko Museums of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- African Archaeological Review Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 32/4(2015-12-01), 751-791 0263-0338 32:4<751 2015 32 10437