Taphonomy and Distribution Analysis of Bone Remains within the Berezhekovsky Sector, Kurtak Archaeological Region, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Central Siberia

Abstract This paper presents the results of a study of fossil remains of large Quaternary mammals from the Berezhekovsky sector of the Kurtak archaeological region (Krasnoyarsk Krai, Central Siberia), conducted in 2023. Taphonomic, morphological, and spatial analysis of the paleofaunal material collected on a coastal shoal enabled the assignment of specific find assemblages to distinct stratigraphic horizons. Based on preservation type, four groups of finds were identified: one is attributed to the middle Neopleistocene, and three to the Kazantsevo, Karginsky, and Sartan horizons to—the late Neopleistocene. The preservation types of bone remains for the two upper horizons of the scale correspond to those of remains from various Paleolithic sites in the Krasnoyarsk district. The studied paleontological material supplements faunal lists for various horizons of the stratigraphic scale and will subsequently allow for a refinement of the stratigraphic subdivision scheme for Quaternary deposits in the Kurtak region.