Čeklovský T., 2014: Findings of Pleistocene horses from Neanderthal site Bojnice I – Prepoštská Cave. Acta Geologica Slovaca, 6, 2, 179–189. (in Slovak with English summary)

Nálezy pleistocénnych koní z neandertálskej lokality Bojnice I – Prepoštská jaskyňa

Findings of Pleistocene horses from Neanderthal site Bojnice I – Prepoštská Cave

Tomáš Čeklovský

Katedra geológie a paleontológie, Prírodovedecká fakulta, Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Mlynská dolina G, 842 15 Bratislava; ceklovsky@fns.uniba.sk

Abstract

The locality Bojnice I – Prepoštská Cave is situated close to the Bojnice Castle and represents an abri with approximately 8 m deep space within a travertine heap. It is one of the most important Neanderthal micoquian settlements in Slovakia. Fossil horses under study were found in former trench III and represent an element of the open steppe to forest-steppe environment with the presence of water source (travertine lake or spring) in the site vicinity. On the basis of morphometrical analysis of teeth and metacarpal bone the horse from Bojnice I – Prepoštská Cave is preliminary attributed to the taxon Equus sp. From taphonomical viewpoint perimortal and post-mortem interventions on the horse bones were caused by human activity (longitudinal folds, percussion marks, cutmarks, burnt fragmented bones), predator activity (biting and gnawing marks) and pathological phenomena (atypical tuberosity). Preliminary fossil record analysis indicate Neanderthals as primary bone accumulators and horses (NISP 58, MNI 4) as their main hunting game.

Key words: Bojnice I - Prepoštská cave, Equus, morphometry, taphonomy, Last Glacial

Manuscript received: 2014-02-12

Revised version accepted: 2014-10-08