From the Berelekh ‘mammoth Graveyard’ to Berelekh Geo-Archaeological Complex: Paleoenvironment, Site Formation Processes, and Human-Mammoth Relationships

The Berelekh ‘mammoth graveyard’ is located on the Berelekh River in the NE Yana-Indighirka Lowland at 70° 30′ N and 144° 02′ E in the East Siberian Arctic. First studied in 1970, it was originally viewed as an example of a natural accumulation of mammoth remains in a periglacial landscape, although the discovery of associated archaeological remains indicated a human presence. New field research has yielded more data on stratigraphy, site formation processes, paleoenvironments, and age, allowing reassessment of the relationship between the mass accumulation of mammoth remains and archaeological site, which together constitute the Berelekh geo-archaeological complex (BGAC). The accumulation of mammoth bone spans 13,700–11,800 14C yr B.P., with respective peaks at 12,400, 12,200, and 11,800 14C yr B.P. The peaks fall within the Bølling-Allerød warming, represented in the Berelekh pollen record. Based on the taphonomy and dating of the BGAC, humans contributed to the formation of the bone-bed and procurement of mammoth was related to production of mammoth ivory technology. The dating of the mammoth bone accumulation coincides with the age of the archaeological site, indicating recurring but not permanent human occupation of the area. Based on IntCal20 calibration, the archaeological component of the Berelekh geo-archaeological complex dates to ∼14,000–13,500 calBP.