Caladenia Cave (Group J)
Basic information
Sample name: Caladenia Cave (Group J)
Reference: K. M. Thorn, R. Roe, A. Baynes, R. P. Hart, K. A. Lance, D. Merrilees, J. K. Porter, and S. Sofoulis. 2017. Fossil mammals of Caladenia Cave, northern Swan Coastal Plain, south-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 32(2):217-236 [ER 3699]
Geography
Country: Australia
State: Western Australia
Coordinate: 31° 19' 18" S, 116° 31' 0" E
Latlng basis: estimated from map
Time interval: Holocene
Section: 3699
Unit number: 7
Unit order: above to below
Max Ma: 0.004256
Min Ma: 0.003812
Age basis: radiocarbon (uncalibrated)
Geography comments: "Caladenia Cave is located between the Moore River mouth at Guilderton and Gingin Scarp on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia".
There are two radiocarbon charcoal dates from Group J, ranging from 4256 ± 56 BP to 3812 ± 45 BP.
There are two radiocarbon charcoal dates from Group J, ranging from 4256 ± 56 BP to 3812 ± 45 BP.
Environment
Lithology: limestone
Taphonomic context: bird accumulation, carnivore accumulation, cave, fissure fill
Archaeology: stone tools
Habitat comments: "Caladenia Cave is an inclined fissure cave that developed in the Tamala Limestone".
"The sedimentary sequence in Caladenia Cave is well stratified. No evidence of reworking of the sediments was observed, except where small burrows occurred".
"A majority of the small mammal material recovered was intact with very little, to no digestive erosion or breakage on crania or long bones, a condition typical of an owl accumulation".
"Mammalian predators and scavengers, as well as humans, also contributed to the Caladenia Cave assemblage". Several artefacts were found during the excavation, but no further details are provided. These are most probably just stone tools.
"The sedimentary sequence in Caladenia Cave is well stratified. No evidence of reworking of the sediments was observed, except where small burrows occurred".
"A majority of the small mammal material recovered was intact with very little, to no digestive erosion or breakage on crania or long bones, a condition typical of an owl accumulation".
"Mammalian predators and scavengers, as well as humans, also contributed to the Caladenia Cave assemblage". Several artefacts were found during the excavation, but no further details are provided. These are most probably just stone tools.
Methods
Life forms: bats, rodents, other large mammals, other small mammals
Sampling methods: quarry, screenwash
Sample size: 227 specimens
Years: 1970 - 1975
Net or trap nights: 0
Basal area status: not applicable
Sampling comments: The excavation was conducted from 1970 to 1975.
"3 mm mesh sieves were used to sieve the sediment from the surface of the deposit down to the base of ‘Stone Heap End’ and the test pit. Due to deterioration of the condition of the material, this was changed to a sieve with a 1 mm mesh from 1.48 m to 2.54 m" (Groups L to R - not in register).
"Bird, reptile, fish and archaeological materials were not further investigated in this study".
"3 mm mesh sieves were used to sieve the sediment from the surface of the deposit down to the base of ‘Stone Heap End’ and the test pit. Due to deterioration of the condition of the material, this was changed to a sieve with a 1 mm mesh from 1.48 m to 2.54 m" (Groups L to R - not in register).
"Bird, reptile, fish and archaeological materials were not further investigated in this study".
Metadata
Sample no: 3893
Contributor no: Benjamin Carter
Enterer: Benjamin Carter
Created: 2022-02-14 13:47:42
Modified: 2023-04-29 05:52:02
Abundance distribution
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts. Values are logged.
Statistics
23 species
5 singletons
total count 227
geometric series index: 36.8
Fisher's α: 6.393
geometric series k: 0.8283
Hurlbert's PIE: 0.8788
Shannon's H: 2.5272
Good's u: 0.9781
Register
| Antechinus flavipes (yellow-footed antechinus) | 23 | |
| Dasyurus geoffroii (western quoll) | 2 | |
| Parantechinus apicalis (dibbler) | 1 | |
| Sarcophilus harrisii (Tasmanian devil) | 3 | 7.5 kg |
| Sminthopsis sp. | 15 | |
| Isoodon obesulus (southern brown bandicoot) | 9 | |
| Pseudocheirus occidentalis (western ringtail possum) | 4 | |
| Trichosurus vulpecula (common brushtail possum) | 11 | 2.1 kg |
| Bettongia lesueur (boodie) | 13 | |
| Bettongia penicillata (woylie) | 10 | |
| †Potorous platyops (broad-faced potoroo) | 1 | |
| Lagorchestes hirsutus (rufous hare wallaby) | 1 | 1.5 kg |
| Macropus fuliginosus (western grey kangaroo) | 1 | 40.0 kg |
| Notamacropus irma (western brush wallaby) | 4 | |
| "Macropus irma" | ||
| Petrogale lateralis (black-flanked rock wallaby) | 2 | |
| Macroderma gigas | 12 | 25.3 g |
| Notomys cf. mitchellii | 12 | |
| Pseudomys albocinereus | 23 | |
| Pseudomys gouldii | 2 | |
| "Pseudomys fieldi" - these are conspecific. | ||
| Pseudomys occidentalis | 63 | |
| Pseudomys shortridgei | 2 | |
| Rattus fuscipes | 12 | |
| Rattus tunneyi | 1 | |