Avian remains from the Late Palaeolithic Djuktai Cave (15000 – 740 years B.P.) are represented by more than 700 bird bones. We identified 65 species from 10 modern orders. The most abundant are remains of the Willow Grouse (Lagopus lagopus), and Ptarmigan (L. mutus). The remains of Ducks (Anatidae), Waders (Scolopacidae), and Thrushes (Turdus spp.) are less numerous. Except for a few cases, most avian species identified represent the fauna of open-land habitats, for example Otis tarda. In modern faunas these birds are inhabitants of steppe landscapes which are absent in the Aldan basin now. Thus the presence of these species indicates that there was a steppe near the Cave at the end of the Pleistocene. In addition, some of the Waterfowl bones recovered have cut-marks made by Palaeolithic man.
Oryctos, 2008. V. 7: 213-222.