BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 1050          Total No. of Sites: 0
Survey/Project Name: Palaeoecology of Blanche Cave
Abstract: This project aims to conduct a palaeoecology study of the vertebrate fossils of Blanche Cave 3rd Chamber (entrance 5U6), Naracoorte Caves National Park, South Australia. Project was later built upon by Projects 1051 and 1040: Taphonomy and Site Formation - Blanche Cave; and Natural variation in small mammal communities - Blanche Cave. Project involved fossil excavation, faunal and taphonomic analyses, sedimentary and geochronological analyses. REFERENCES: Laslett, T.M. 2006. A palaeoecological study of a Quaternary vertebrate fossil deposit in Blanche Cave, Naracoorte, South Australia. BSc (Hons) Thesis, Flinders University, South Australia.
 
Start Date: 24/02/2006      End Date: 28/02/2007
Survey Type: Fauna only
   
Study Area Description: Third Chamber, Blanche Cave (entrances 5U4,5,6), Naracoorte Caves National Park: Zone 54, Easting 481872, Northing 5901424.
Objectives
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation survey objectives recorded
         Fauna: Refer to Abstract.
Methodology
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation methodology recorded
         Fauna: SAMPLE COLLECTION: An initial test pit (0.5 m3) was excavated in 5 cm spits to determine density of bone in deposit. Excavation of 4 x 1 m2 grid squares (grid squares A1, B1, A2, B2) from 3rd Chamber, Blanche Cave. Grid squares were excavated across 22 x 5 cm thick spits, following the stratigraphy where possible. A large sub-surface boulder was present, partially filling all grid squares resulting in variable amounts of material for each grid square. VERTEBRATE FOSSIL PREPARATION: All material from the excavated grid squares was wet screened. Material from grid square B2 and small amount from A2 was sorted for diagnostic elements including mammalian and reptilian craniodental specimens, amphibian ilia and all avian material. Only material from grid square B2 was identified and used in faunal analyses associated with the project. Note: Not all fossil material from grid square B2 was identified and used in faunal analyses; a proportion remained unidentified. Minor amounts of material from grid square A2 were later sorted and identified by Dr Amy Macken but is incomplete. VERTEBRATE FOSSIL REGISTRATION: The identified small mammal material from grid square B2 was registered to the South Australian Museum by volunteer Catherine Nielsen in 2015 under the direction of Dr Amy Macken (SAM P51959-P52208). SEDIMENTARY ANALYSES: 1.5 kg of sediment was collected from each excavation layer for sedimentary analysis. Sedimentary profile was further analysed as part of projects: Taphonomy and Site Formation - Blanche Cave by Dr Liz Reed; and Natural variation in small mammal communities - Blanche Cave by Dr Amy Macken. GEOCHRONOLOGICAL ANALYSES: Calcite straws recovered during the excavation and from sorting were U-Series dated by Dr J. Zhao, University of Queensland. Refer to publications in project: Taphonomy and Site Formation - Blanche Cave by Dr Liz Reed for details.

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