Fragments of monk seal bones (Monachus monachus) discovered 7-12 m below water level in Bel Torrente Cave (Central-East Sardinia) in 2004 have been AMS radiocarbon dated. The bones, probably of different individuals, have calibrated ages ranging from 5000-6500 calendar years B.P. and allow reconstruction of the paleogeography of the cave and the surrounding area during this time period. Monk seals, living in large numbers along the Sardinian coast, used the cave for shelter and to give birth to their pups. The lower sea level of the mid-Holocene, combined with cave morphology, allowed them to reach far into the main tunnel of the cave. The large number of bones found, of approximately the same age, seems to indicate that the monk seals used caves even when human disturbance of the coast was minor, suggesting they had other predators they were also trying to avoid.

Monk seal (Monachus monachus) bones in Bel Torrente Cave (Central-East Sardinia) and their paleogeographical significance / De Waele J.; Brook G.A.; Oertel A.. - In: JOURNAL OF CAVES AND KARST STUDIES. - ISSN 1090-6924. - STAMPA. - 71:(2009), pp. 16-23.

Monk seal (Monachus monachus) bones in Bel Torrente Cave (Central-East Sardinia) and their paleogeographical significance.

DE WAELE, JO HILAIRE AGNES;
2009

Abstract

Fragments of monk seal bones (Monachus monachus) discovered 7-12 m below water level in Bel Torrente Cave (Central-East Sardinia) in 2004 have been AMS radiocarbon dated. The bones, probably of different individuals, have calibrated ages ranging from 5000-6500 calendar years B.P. and allow reconstruction of the paleogeography of the cave and the surrounding area during this time period. Monk seals, living in large numbers along the Sardinian coast, used the cave for shelter and to give birth to their pups. The lower sea level of the mid-Holocene, combined with cave morphology, allowed them to reach far into the main tunnel of the cave. The large number of bones found, of approximately the same age, seems to indicate that the monk seals used caves even when human disturbance of the coast was minor, suggesting they had other predators they were also trying to avoid.
2009
Monk seal (Monachus monachus) bones in Bel Torrente Cave (Central-East Sardinia) and their paleogeographical significance / De Waele J.; Brook G.A.; Oertel A.. - In: JOURNAL OF CAVES AND KARST STUDIES. - ISSN 1090-6924. - STAMPA. - 71:(2009), pp. 16-23.
De Waele J.; Brook G.A.; Oertel A.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/76993
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