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Muzeul Olteniei Craiova. Oltenia. Studii şi comunicări. Ştiinţele Naturii. Tom. 27, No. 1/2011 ISSN 1454-6914
231
MAMMAL FAUNA FROM THE UPPER PALEOLITHIC SITE OF RAŞCOV-8
(REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA)
CROITOR Roman, COVALENCO Serghei
Abstract. The fossil mammal remains and archaeological context from the multilayered Upper Paleolithic site Raşcov-8 are rendered
in the present paper. The Paleolithic stone implements belong to Epigravettian and Epiauregnacian cultures (21,000 – 18,000 years B.
P.). The most abundant teeth and bones belong to reindeer - Rangifer tarandus constantini and horse - Equus caballus ssp. that shows
morphological affinities with E. cf. transilvanicus from Romania. Some scarce remains belong to brown bear - Ursus arctos, wolf -
Canis lupus, and mammoth - Mammuthus primigenius. The composition of the mammal assemblage from Raşcov-8 suggests that
ancient hunters preferred as prey vulnerable juvenile and senile individuals of large sized mammal species.
Keywords: Late Paleolithic, Epigravettian, Epiaurignacian, reindeer, horse, Republic of Moldova.
Rezumat.
Fauna de mamifere din aşezarea paleolitic superioară Raşcov-8 (Republica Moldova). Articolul prezintă
resturile de mamifere fosile şi contextul arheologic din aşezarea pluristratigrafică paleolitic superioară Raşcov-8. Artefactele paleolitice din
Raşcov-8 aparţin culturilor epigravetiană şi epiaurignaciană (21 000 – 18 000 BP). Rămăşiţele osteologice cele mai numeroase aparţin
renului - Rangifer tarandus constantini şi calului - Equus caballus ssp. care din punct de vedere morfologic este foarte asemănător cu E. cf.
transilvanicus din România. Rămăşiţele ursului brun - Ursus arctos, lupului - Canis lupus şi mamutului - Mammuthus primigenius sunt
reprezentate prin piese mai puţin numeroase. Caracteristica asociaţiei complexului de mamifere din Raşcov-8 probează faptul că vânătorii
paleolitici vânau în primul rând exemplarele vulnerabile, juvenile sau senile, ale speciilor de talie mare.
Cuvinte cheie: Paleolitic superior, epigravetian, epiaurignacian, ren, cal, Republica Moldova.
INTRODUCTION
The Upper Paleolithic site Raşcov-8 is situated on the southern border of a cluster of multilayered Paleolithic
sites from the middle part of the Dniester River. This site is peculiar because it is situated at a certain distance from the
river, being placed on the third terrace of the Dniester left side tributary, the Bugornaya.
First surface findings from Raşcov-8 were collected by N. A. Chetraru in 1958. Later, in 1971, G. V.. Grigorieva
and I. K. Ivanova carried out a stratigraphical study of the site and reported two culture layers (G
RIGORIEVA, 1974;
CHETRARU et al., 1986). The regular excavations in Raşcov-8 on the area of 50 square meters are carried out by one of us
(S. C.) since 2005. The excavations revealed six culture layers representing the middle part of the Late Paleolithic.
According to the underlying paleosoil dated by the interstadial Bryansk (Shtilfrid «В») and typological characteristics of
flint artifacts, the cultural layers from Raşcov 8 fall within the time span from 21,000 to 18,000 years B.P.
Beside Paleolithic layers, the uppermost deposits of the site have yielded a Getic burial with cremation and two
levels with Cucuteni-Tripolie artifacts. The Aeneolithic osteological complex includes several skeletal remains of one
individual of cattle (juvenile), one first phalanx of red deer and four skeletal fragments of horse.
The first Epigravettian cultural level is lying on Pleistocene clays formed on the border of slack water (A. L.
Chepalyga, personal communication to S. C.). The second layer is characterised by similar cultural identity. This
conclusion is supported by the backed bladelets and micropoints with vertical retouch found in both layers. The sample
of artifacts (Figs. 1:1-18) includes also flint scrapers on flake, burins on retouched truncation and transverse, points-
borers, handles made of antler for tool fixation, and a part of spearhead made of mammoth ivory. The first layer yielded
a number of osteological remains belonging to two individuals of reindeer (Table 1), one of which is mature and
another is juvenile. Very few remains of wild horse (fragments of metapodials) belong to a single individual.
Table 1. Number of bone remains and individuals reported from the Paleolithic layers of Raşcov-8;
bn, number of bones; ind, number of individuals.
Tabel 1. Numărul de oase şi de indivizi descoperiţi în nivelurile paleolitice de la Râşcov-8;
bn, număr de oase; ind, număr de indivizi.
Species
layer I layer II layer III layer IIIa layer IV layer V
bn. ind. bn. ind. bn. ind. bn. ind. bn. ind. bn. ind.
Rangifer tarandus 16 2 39 2 70 3 46 3 6 1 1 1
Cervus elaphus 1 1 2 1 1 1
Equus caballus 4 1 10 1 57 3 6 1
Ursus arctos 3 1
Canis lupus 1 1
Mammuthus primigenius 11 1 3 1
The third culture layer rests on thick deposits of gravel and boulders and consists of two levels. The upper level
is very rich in findings that were found undisturbed inside the layer. The lower level covers gravel aggregations and is
partially preserved. The third culture layer is particularly important, since it proves the presence of Epiaurignacian in
CROITOR Roman COVALENCO Serghei
232
the stratigraphical column under two Epigravettian layers. The findings from this layer are numerous, mostly
represented by osteological remains. Among flint-stone artifacts, the core-shaped scrapers (tip rabot), carinate scrapers
on robust flakes, the scraper on «avivage» of «á museau» type are particularly interesting (Figs. 1: 19-33).
Figure 1. Stone implements from the Upper Paleolithic site Raşcov-8.
Figura 1. Unelte din piatră din situl paleolitic superior Râşcov-8.
Muzeul Olteniei Craiova. Oltenia. Studii şi comunicări. Ştiinţele Naturii. Tom. 27, No. 1/2011 ISSN 1454-6914
233
The core-scrapers are naturally connected with Dufour bladelets and flakes with curved profile, two of which
are close to the Sagaidak-Muralovka type. The bladelets on retouched truncation are also quite expressive. The
character of retouch certainly is not of Gravettian type, since the section face is not extended over all thickness of billet.
The same type of retouch is seen on the majority of bladelets missing the sharp end. Only three fragments of plates are
marked by vertical truncating retouching. Among other tools, we note the presence of dihedral burins and burins on
retouched truncation. This layer has yielded the richest osteological material that represents six individuals of reindeer
(one of which is juvenile and one from level 3A is senile), four individuals of wild horse (one of which is juvenile and
two individuals are senile; one senile individual comes from the level 3A), two fragments of left lower hemimandible of
brown bear, two bone fragments of red deer, and several fragments of postcranial bones and one molar of juvenile
mammoth.
The fourth culture bed is situated under the deposit of gravel and boulders. This layer is sharp outlined
stratigraphically with real thickness up to 10 cm. All findings were unearthed from the loess loam with smallest
inclusions of charcoal. The tool collection from this layer includes the large number of flint flakes and small chips, as
well as burins on retouched truncation, but the piece of acicular micropoint on retouched truncation represents a special
interest, resembling a needle-shaped microtip from the Ciutuleşti site. The osteological material from the fourth layer is
poor and represented by some isolated teeth, talus, and a shed antler of reindeer.
The lowermost fifth and sixth cultural layers are deposited at the base of loess-like loams over fossil soils
underlain by alluvial deposits. The traces of prehistoric man presence are very scant and mostly represented by
mammoth bones, charcoal and few flint-stone artifacts. Beside mammoth skeletal remains, the fifth layer has yielded an
acetabulum of wolf, a piece of antler of reindeer and a distal part of antler that belongs to red deer.
The lower fossiliferous level underlying cultural strata has yielded several postcranial bones of wild horse. The
state of preservation of material from this level is different: bones are partially damaged, but mostly complete and are
not crushed as the osteological material from the cultural layers; radius and ulna are articulated. The fossiliferous
stratum under flagstone yielded a fragment of scapula of bison, three deeply worn lower incisors of a wild horse.
The fossils from Paleolithic layers are badly damaged and have a poor state of preservation, therefore in many
cases the biometrical description of specimens is impossible. Here we present a description of the best represented
species from Raşcov 8, the wild horse and the reindeer.
SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTION
Wild horse – Equus caballus ssp.
Table 2. Measurements of horse (Equus caballus ssp.) remains from Raşcov-8.
DAP, anteroposterior diameter; DLM, lateromedial diameter.
Tabel 2. Măsurătorile fosilelor de cal ((Equus caballus ssp.) de la Râşcov-8.
DAP, diametrul anteroposterior; DLM, diametrul lateromedial.
Measurements layer II layer III
Scapula
Maximal length 330.+
Maximal breadth 170.0
Narrowest DAP 75.0
Distal DAP 97.8
DAP of articulation 61.3
DLM of articulation 52.0
Tibia
Distal DLM 80.0
Distal DAP 50.0
Radius
Distal DLM 76.5
Distal DAP 44.0
Phalanx II
Medial length 49.4
Maximal length 51.8
Proximal DLM 62.7
Proximal DAP 36.4
DLM of diaphysis 52.4
Distal DLM 56.5
Distal DAP 29.2
Third lower molar (M
3
)
Crown length 33.0, 35.3
Crown breadth 15.5, 16.5
Second lower premolar (P
2
)
Crown length 35.4
Crown breadth 17.0
CROITOR Roman COVALENCO Serghei
234
Description. The wild horse from Raşcov-8 is characterized by rather large cheek teeth (Table 2), as Upper
Pleistocene E. latipes from Eastern Europe and larger than in modern E. przewalskii (Fig. 2A). One can note that the
second lower premolar from Raşcov-8 corresponds to the smaller specimens from Brânzeni-1 and is quite close to the
dimensions of P
2
of E. cf. transilvanicus from Romania.
Figure 2. Measurements of remains of horse Equus caballus ssp. from Raşcov-8 compared to the Upper Pleistocene and modern wild
horses of Eurasia. A - the lower second premolar (P
2
); B - the second phalanx of anterior limb. Data on E. latipes, E. uralensis and E.
przewalskii are adapted from K
UZMINA (1977); data on E. cf. transilvanicus are adapted from SAMSON (1975); data on E. latipes
from Brânzeni-1 are adapted from D
AVID (1974).
Figura 2. Măsurătorile fosilelor de cal Equus caballus ssp. De la Râşcov-8 comparate cu cele ale cailor din Pleistocenul superior şi cu
ale cailor moderni sălbatici din Eurasia. A - al doilea premolar inferior (P
2
); B - a doua falangă a membrului anterior. Datele privind
E. latipes, E. uralensis and E. przewalskii au fost prelucrate după
KUZMINA (1977); datele despre E. cf. transilvanicus au fost
prelucrate după S
AMSON (1975); datele despre E. latipes de la Brânzeni-1 au fost prelucrate după DAVID (1974).
Muzeul Olteniei Craiova. Oltenia. Studii şi comunicări. Ştiinţele Naturii. Tom. 27, No. 1/2011 ISSN 1454-6914
235
The horse from Raşcov-8 is distinguished from the oriental Upper Pleistocene and Holocene horses by peculiar
proportions of the second phalanx, which is rather long and slender. The second phalanx from Raşcov-8 is significantly
longer than in Late Pleistocene E. latipes from Eastern Europe (including the sample from Brânzeni-1, Moldova) and E.
uralensis from the Ural Area. The second phalanx from Raşcov 8 is also longer than in modern E. przewalskii (Fig. 2B).
The maximal length of the second anterior phalanx from Raşcov-8 (51.7 mm) falls within the range of length variation
of Equus cf. transilvanicus from Romania (50.5-55.0 mm, four specimens; data from S
AMSON, 1975). The lateromedial
diameter of the specimen from Raşcov-8 (52.4 mm) just slightly exceeds the breadth of diaphysis of Equus cf.
transilvanicus (46.0-52.0 mm; ibidem).
Comments. The large number of species of Upper Pleistocene horses in Northern Eurasia (G
ROMOVA, 1949;
SAMSON, 1975; KUZMINA, 1997) creates a certain taxonomical and systematical confusion. Possibly, the majority of
Upper Pleistocene Eurasian species could be regarded as subspecies of Equus caballus. Since this important and
complicate question is beyond the scope of this study, we report the equine form from Raşcov-8 as E. caballus ssp. The
remarkable length of the second phalanx approaches the horse from Raşcov-8 to “E. cf. transilvanicus” from Romania.
Obviously, the scanty material does not give firm evidences for definite conclusions on morphological affinity and
systematical position of the Paleolithic horse from Raşcov-8. It is noteworthy that E. latipes from Brânzeni-1 is
characterized by somewhat longer and slender second phalanxes if compared to E. latipes from Russia (nonetheless, the
measurements of the sample from Brânzeni-1 and Russia broadly overlap; Fig. 2B), and possibly this character shows a
transitional condition between Russian and Romanian Upper Pleistocene horses.
Reindeer – Rangifer tarandus constantini F
LEROV
Description. A part of the fossils of reindeer from Raşcov-8 are described in an earlier communication (C
ROITOR,
2010a). Here we propose a detailed morphological description of the shed antler discovered in the fourth layer (Fig. 3).
Figure 3. The left shed antler of reindeer Rangifer tarandus constantini from the layer IV of the Upper Paleolithic site Raşcov-8.
Figura 3. Corn stâng de ren Rangifer tarandus constantini din nivelul IV al sitului paleolitic superior Râşcov-8.
The specimen represents a proximal part of a left shed antler with the missing distal part of antler beam, the
completely destroyed basal tine and the broken distal part of second tine. The antler surface is smooth. The outline of
antler base is circular (43.2×39.3 mm). The antler burr is destroyed. The basal tine is situated very close to the burr. The
second tine is situated at 117.4 mm from the antler base. The distance between the basal tine and the second tine is
comparatively small as in all Eurasian reindeer (G
EIST, 1998). This tine is compressed from the side; therefore the shape
of its cross-section is oval. The diameters amount to 34.4×24.1 mm at tine’s base and 32.6×22.0 mm at 14 cm from the
base where the tine is broken. The angle of second ramification is almost right. The beam is almost cylinder-shaped and
just slightly compressed from the sides. Its diameters above the second tine amount to 38.4×33.8 mm. The antler could
belong to a female or to a young male. From the eco-morphological point of view, it represents the “cylindricornis” or
tundra type of reindeer.
Measurements of postcranial bones from Raşcov-8 (Table 3, Fig. 4) fall within the range of variation of the
reindeer from Cosăuţi and exceed the variation range of the reindeer from Brânzeni-1, as one can note in the case of
distal epiphysis of metatarsus (Fig. 4C). Since the sexual dimorphism in size of postcranial skeleton in fossil reindeer is
clearly visible, we could reveal the sexual appurtenance of the reindeer individuals: the layer II contains remains of a
juvenile female and a mature male; the layer III contains remains of a juvenile male, a mature male, and a mature
female; the remains of three mature females, one of which is senile, were unearthed from the layer IIIa; and the remains
discovered in the layer IV belong to a mature male (the shed antler is not considered).
CROITOR Roman COVALENCO Serghei
236
Figure 4. Measurements of remains of reindeer from Raşcov-8 compared to the samples of Upper Pleistocene reindeer
from Cosăuţi and Brânzeni-1 (data adapted from C
ROITOR, 2010b).
A - the distal epiphysis of humerus; B - the talus; C - the distal epiphysis of metatarsus.
Figura 4. Măsurătorile fosilelor de ren de la Râşcov-8 comparate cu fosilele de ren din Pleistocenul superior
de la Cosăuţi şi Brânzeni-1 (date prelucrate după C
ROITOR, 2010b).
A - epifiza distală a humerusului; B - talusul; C - epifiza distală a metatarsului.
Muzeul Olteniei Craiova. Oltenia. Studii şi comunicări. Ştiinţele Naturii. Tom. 27, No. 1/2011 ISSN 1454-6914
237
Table 3. Measurements of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus constantini) remains from Raşcov-8.
Tabel 3. Măsurătorile fosilelor de ren (Rangifer tarandus constantini) de la Râşcov-8.
Measurements layer II layer III layer IIIa layer IV
Humerus
Distal DLM 48.7 47.7, 47.0 44.2
Distal DAP 53.6 51.0, 53.4 42.0
D of trochlea humeri 36.8 33.3, 35.6 32.2
Radius
Proximal DLM 42.9 47.6
Proximal DAP 25.0 26.4
Distal DLM 46.5 40.0
Distal DAP 33.1 26.9
Metacarpus
Distal DLM 42.5
Tibia
Distal DLM 39.2 38.7, 38.2
Distal DAP 30.8 32.5, 33.1
Talus
Maximal length 45.5 46.4, 49.0 47.7
Distal DLM 28.0 28.8, 31.3 30.0
Distal DAP 28.5 24.2, 26.2 25.2
Metatarsus
Distal DLM 44.4 38.5 40.3, 40.0
Distal DAP 23.7 22.2 23.7, 21.0
Comments. The new osteological material confirmed the conclusion that the reindeer from Raşcov-8 is similar
to the tundra-steppe form Rangifer tarandus constantini reported at Cosăuţi (C
ROITOR, 2010a). This subspecies is
characterized by very large cheek teeth and lower incisors, relatively narrow facial part of skull, slender antlers missing
large palmations, and short limbs with robust epiphyses (F
LEROV, 1934; ERMOLOVA, 1978). R. tarandus constantini
was an open landscape gregarious grazer superficially resembling modern tundra reindeer. The subspecies evolved in
the conditions of a dry and continental climate of Eastern Siberia and during the last Glaciation extended its area of
distribution to Western Europe (C
ROITOR, 2010b). The remains of R. tarandus constantini from Raşcov-8 represent the
earliest record of this subspecies on the territory of Moldova. R. tarandus constantini arrived on the territory of modern
Moldova about 19,000–20,000 years ago and replaced R. tarandus cf. guettardi characterized by comparatively smaller
cheek teeth (C
ROITOR, 2010a).
REMARKS ON HUNTING STRATEGY
Apparently, the Raşcov-8 settlement had a seasonal character. The skull fragments of juvenile and female
individuals of reindeer with antler basal part attached found in the layers III and IIIa suggest that the animals were
hunted during winter or spring seasons. Since the reindeer from Cosăuţi and Raşcov-8 was a gregarious tundra-steppe
form, their annual biological cycle included also the seasonal migrations. One can assume that the herds of reindeer
migrated to the North during the summer season and remained in the Middle Dniester Area only for the winter season.
Therefore, the shed antler from the layer IV, apparently, belongs to a young male, since adult males shed their antlers
soon after mating season (F
LEROV, 1952; SOKOLOV, 1959).
The sex and age of reindeer individuals from Raşcov-8 suggest that ancient hunters were rather unselective:
the sample contains both sexes of various individual ages. Possibly, a slight selection focused upon large adult males
may be suggested, since males in the sample from Raşcov-8 are more frequent than in natural populations. The
male/female ratio of reindeer from Raşcov-8 is similar to that found in Duruitoarea Veche (C
ROITOR, 2010b).
Nonetheless, the presence of a senile female and juveniles define still a rather opportunistic character of hunting on
reindeer.
The demographic situation in larger mammals from Raşcov-8 is different. Three of six recorded individuals of
horse are senile, and one individual is juvenile. Apparently, the attention of hunters was focused upon weak and
defenseless individuals. The senile individuals are most vulnerable in this sense, because juveniles are protected by their
mothers. The remains of a juvenile mammoth are also very suggestive of strong prey selection in favour of the most
vulnerable individuals of larger mammals. As a conclusion, one can say that the prey selection is stronger with respect
to larger mammals, while smaller prey is hunted more or less opportunistically. A similar pattern of prey selection is
reported for pack hunting predators, such as the African wild dog Lycaon pictus (P
ALMQUIST et al., 1996). Such a
specific prey selection may suggest that inhabitants of Raşcov-8 settlement were exposed to rather limited human
resources that constrained them to hunt upon vulnerable juvenile and senile individuals in larger prey species.
CROITOR Roman COVALENCO Serghei
238
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Croitor Roman
Archeological Centre, Institute of Cultural Patrimony
Bd. Ştefan cel Mare, 1 – MD2001 – Chişinău, Republic of Moldova
E-mail: roman.croitor@gmail.com
Covalenco Serghei
Archeological Centre, Institute of Cultural Patrimony
Bd. Ştefan cel Mare, 1 – MD2001 – Chişinău, Republic of Moldova
Received: March 12, 2011
Accepted: July 14, 2011
