A palaeoecological investigation of the small vertebrate mammals of Fossil Chamber, Victoria Fossil Cave, Naracoorte, SA

Abstract

Victoria Fossil Cave has had extensive excavation done on the fossil deposits located within. Much of this work has taken place around the Fossil Chamber, recognised as the main and most accessible deposit for material, ranging from around 100-400 thousand years of age. The focus has been primarily directed at the megafauna, the larger and more charismatic animals of the region. Unfortunately, this leaves the smaller species, quolls, rodents, bettongs, sugar gliders, and bandicoots, unanalysed and missing from the ecological timeline. This project seeks to remedy this gap in knowledge by analysing the small mammal material from a previous excavation in Pit E of Fossil Chamber, undertaken in 2002. This material was sorted meticulously over several months, analysed for statistical relevance, and reviewed using the Rcommander software. The material came in 5 layers, which were split into two Units, 7 and 8, to retain statistical relevance. The results suggested a massive presence of muridae, consistent through both units, with varying levels of increase/decrease and presence/absence of many other species between units. This information was used to determine the likelihood that the depositional environment of the system resulted from a pitfall trap and whether the system was open or closed between depositions. Results were compared with the previous Cathedral Cave excavation, and anomalies between the two Units were analysed with suggestions being made to explain them. Suggestions were made for future work to improve upon the methods used for this project.