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<p>Research on animal skeletal fossils in the Yanyuan Basin remains limited, resulting in a scarcity of faunal evidence to support studies of Quaternary stratigraphy, paleoclimate, and paleoenvironmental evolution in this region. This study provides the first taphonomic analysis of 14 mammalian fossil specimens unearthed from the Laolongtou cemetery, aiming to elucidate their depositional context. The results indicate that the fossils are highly fragmented with poor anatomical association. Analysis of bone surface modifications and fracture patterns demonstrates that the assemblage of skeletal fossils within the sedimentary layers of the Laolongtou cemetery likely represents natural deposition and is unrelated to intentional burial practices. Taphonomic observations, including scratch marks and a moderate degree of rounding on the bone surfaces, suggest potential fluvial transport after death. The sedimentary sequence indicates that the strata at the base of the tomb were likely deposited by three distinct torrential events with a north-to-south paleoflow direction. While the fossils exhibit some weathering, notable discrepancies in composition and concentration between the fossil assemblage and the enclosing sediment point to varied burial histories. Therefore, this study preliminarily concludes that the mammalian fossils are allochthonous. Their primary depositional setting is interpreted as the fan-top to fan-margin transition zone within a proluvial-alluvial facies. These findings provide significant insights for future research on Quaternary paleoclimate, micro-geomorphology, and paleoenvironmental evolution in the region.</p>

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Research on mammalian fossils and their burial environment in Laolongtou Cemetery, Yanyuan, Sichuan Province

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月2日

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  • Guilan Liao,
  • Jian Liu,
  • Ming Huang,
  • Hui Ouyang,
  • Zhiqing Zhou,
  • Chenfeng Xu,
  • Jianbo Tian

摘要

Research on animal skeletal fossils in the Yanyuan Basin remains limited, resulting in a scarcity of faunal evidence to support studies of Quaternary stratigraphy, paleoclimate, and paleoenvironmental evolution in this region. This study provides the first taphonomic analysis of 14 mammalian fossil specimens unearthed from the Laolongtou cemetery, aiming to elucidate their depositional context. The results indicate that the fossils are highly fragmented with poor anatomical association. Analysis of bone surface modifications and fracture patterns demonstrates that the assemblage of skeletal fossils within the sedimentary layers of the Laolongtou cemetery likely represents natural deposition and is unrelated to intentional burial practices. Taphonomic observations, including scratch marks and a moderate degree of rounding on the bone surfaces, suggest potential fluvial transport after death. The sedimentary sequence indicates that the strata at the base of the tomb were likely deposited by three distinct torrential events with a north-to-south paleoflow direction. While the fossils exhibit some weathering, notable discrepancies in composition and concentration between the fossil assemblage and the enclosing sediment point to varied burial histories. Therefore, this study preliminarily concludes that the mammalian fossils are allochthonous. Their primary depositional setting is interpreted as the fan-top to fan-margin transition zone within a proluvial-alluvial facies. These findings provide significant insights for future research on Quaternary paleoclimate, micro-geomorphology, and paleoenvironmental evolution in the region.