Differential Preservation of Vertebrates in Southeast Asian Caves Julien Louys1,8*, Shimona Kealy1, Sue O’Connor1, Gilbert J
International Journal of Speleology 46 (3) 379-408 Tampa, FL (USA) September 2017 Available online at scholarcommons.usf.edu/ijs International Journal of Speleology Off icial Journal of Union Internationale de Spéléologie Differential preservation of vertebrates in Southeast Asian caves Julien Louys1,8*, Shimona Kealy1, Sue O’Connor1, Gilbert J. Price2, Stuart Hawkins1, Ken Aplin3, Yan Rizal4, Jahdi Zaim4, Mahirta5, Daud A. Tanudirjo5, Wahyu Dwijo Santoso4, Ati Rati Hidayah5, Agus Trihascaryo4, Rachel Wood6, Joseph Bevitt7, and Tara Clark2,8 1ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia 2School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Brisbane, Australia 3Division of Mammals, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., DC 20560, USA 4Geology Study Program, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jawa Barat 40132, Indonesia 5Jurusan Arkeologi, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia 6Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia 7Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Kirrawee DC NSW 2232, Australia 8Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University, Nathan QLD 4111, Australia Abstract: Caves have been an important source of vertebrate fossils for much of Southeast Asia, particularly for the Quaternary. Despite this importance, the mechanisms by which vertebrate remains accumulate and preserve in Southeast Asian caves has never been systematically reviewed or examined. Here, we present the results of three years of cave surveys in Indonesia and Timor-Leste, describing cave systems and their attendant vertebrate accumulations in diverse geological, biogeographical, and environmental settings. While each cave system is unique, we find that the accumulation and preservation of vertebrate remains are highly dependent on local geology and environment.
[Show full text]