Pleistocene Walrus on the Pechora River: Mineralogical and Geochemical Data and Paleoecological Reconstructions

Abstract: Fragments of the left tusk were studied in a Pleistocene walrus whose fossil remains were found on the bank of the Pechora River in 2009. The analyses covered granulometric, chemical, and normative-mineral composition of grounds surrounding the bones; thermal properties and chemical and trace element compositions of the tusk; X-ray diffraction parameters and chemical composition of bone bioapatite; macrostructure and elemental and amino acid compositions of bone organic matter; carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of bioapatite; and carbon and nitrogen isotope compositions of bone collagen. Bioapatite showed moderately isotopically light carbon, which is characteristic of extracave fossil bones of Pleistocene animals, and isotopically heavy oxygen, which is typical of seawater bicarbonate. The isotopic data obtained for the organic matter of the Pechora walrus correlated with similar characteristics of marine animals, but suggest a fish diet rather than a mollusk diet, which is typical of modern walruses. The finding indicates that the habitat and diet of the Pechora walrus were unusual for marine predators.