BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 1053          Total No. of Sites: 0
Survey/Project Name: Fossil fauna of Fossil Chamber, Victoria Fossil Cave
Abstract: This project aims to investigate the fossil faunas in in Main Fossil Chamber, Victoria Fossil Cave (5U1), Naracoorte Caves National Park, South Australia. Associated fossil collection made over a period of c. 30 years, with the first collections in 1969. Project involved fossil excavation, sedimentary and geochronological analysis. Project links to the study 'Taphonomy of large mammal bone deposits - Victoria Fossil Cave'. COLLECTION SUMMARY: Majority of non-museum registered fossil material from this collection housed at the Naracoorte Caves Fossil Laboratory. Both FU and non-FU registered material is organised in trays by stratigraphic provenance, e.g. 54.5 - 56.5, R 2 - 3, D/D -2.55 to -2.88 (54.5 to 56.5 feet along central axis from datum, 2 to 3 feet to the right of the central axis and 2.55 to 2.88 feet below the datum level (positive depth means above datum level). Lists of the FU registered material were compiled by Dr Liz Reed and hard copies are kept with the associated trays (electronic copies to be sought). Extent of taxonomic identification of material in the collection unknown although majority of postcranial elements are unidentified. Majority of fossils are clean and in good condition. Unsorted sediment samples for this collection stored in the Naracoorte Caves Fossil Shed. Many of the sediment bags are degraded and many samples are contaminated with leaves, samples from other degraded bags, spider webs, dead millipedes or small animal faeces. Some sediment bags have been re-bagged. Provenance labelling conventions have been inconsistent during some excavation periods, especially for Pit A bulk samples.
 
Start Date: 01/01/1969      End Date: 31/12/1998
Survey Type: Fauna only
   
Study Area Description: Main Fossil Chamber, Victoria Fossil Cave (entrance 5U1), Naracoorte Caves National Park: Zone 54, Easting 482499, Northing 5899871.
Objectives
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation survey objectives recorded
         Fauna: Refer to Abstract.
Methodology
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation methodology recorded
         Fauna: SAMPLE COLLECTION: Four pits were established and excavated, Pits A, B, C and D and were positioned within a three dimensional positional reference system established across Main Fossil Chamber. The positional reference system comprises a central axis marked with pegs at intervals of 10 feet, leading from near the established datum at the low end of the bed (public viewing area; Pit A) back to the sediment cone. Excavated material from each of the pits was referenced to the 3D positional system as follows: (a) distance range (in feet) from the datum along this axis; (b) the distance range to either the right or left of the axis (in feet); (c) depth range relative to datum (in decimal feet). No standard excavation size was used so each lot of excavated material is of different volume and the relationships between excavation lots are do not follow a standard grid pattern. Pit Locations: Pit A spans 0 to 15 ft along the central axis and is shallow in depth. Pit B (stratigraphic pit) spans 90 to 95 ft along the central axis, is 1 m2 in dimension and 10.3 ft deep. Pit C spans 50 to 70 ft along the central axis and is greater than 3 ft deep. Pit D spans 115 to 122 feet along the central axis, positioned at the proximal end of the sediment cone. Pit is shallow. VERTEBRATE FOSSIL PREPARATION: Individual large bones were excavated in situ. Sediment bags selectively screened and sorted. Some material cleaned and hardened with polyvinyl buterate solution. VERTEBRATE FOSSIL REGISTRATION: Various elements registered with the South Australian Museum or the Flinders University collection. Field numbers given to some material (e.g. VFC/C/197 = Victoria Fossil Cave, Pit C, number 197) while a large proportion of items (most postcranial elements) remain unregistered. SAM registrations: P16000-16172 (Meredith Smith); P16507-17000 (Wells et al.); P20002-20819 (Wells et al.); P25041-25048 (D O'Carroll); P25525-2600 (E. Bailey et al.); P26801-27269 (E. Bailey et al.); P27329-27799 (E. Bailey et al.); P27800-29000 (E. Bailey et al.); P32451-32545 (E. Bailey et al.). Flinders University Registrations: FU00001-00079 (Prideaux et al.); FU00092-00182 (Prideaux et al.); FU00195-00408 (Prideaux et al.); FU00425-00813 (Bailey et al.); FU00967-00969 (P. Daenke); FU00999-01010 (P. Daenke); FU01028-01046 (P. Daenke et al.); FU01083-01142 (Bailey et al.); FU01236-01648 (Bailey and Williams); FU01667-01672 (Bailey); FU01686-01688 (P. Gaff); FU01762-02069 (Reed and Bailey et al.); FU02240-02270 (A. Baynes); FU02299-02414 (Williams and Scanlon); FU03001-03171 (Reed); FU03337-04536 (Reed); Note: Some specimens in these series are from other localities and some items are marked as on loan to various researchers. Status of these loans is unknown but all loans predate 2002. Details in Vertebrate Palaeontology database and BDBSA. SEDIMENTARY ANALYSES: Sediment samples were collected from Pit B for sedimentary analysis. GEOCHRONOLOGICAL ANALYSES: Geochronological methods applied at the site include: Optically Stimulated Luminescence, Electron Spin Resonance, U/Th, radiocarbon and Amino Acid Racemisation. Details in associated publications.

Data Distribution Rules: Public Dataset
Project Basis: Fauna : Fossil excavation
Information Authority: Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:South East)
Flinders University of SA