Gypsum Cave

Gypsum Cave UTEP 93

NV: Clark Co.: Frenchman Mts., Ca. 2,000 FT. (610 m)

General Description.—Kurtén and Anderson 1980: 30 km E Las Vegas in foothills of Frenchman Mtn., elevation 454 m. Consists of several chambers. At top of the deposit of fragmented limestone is a gypsiferous layer, with a layer of sloth dung reaching a maximum depth of 66 cm above that. Artifacts from same layer as fossils. Also charred and broken Hemiauchenia bones.

Comments.—UTEP specimens are casts from LACM (CIT) 109 Collection. Note difference in elevation figures above.

Age.—Sloth dung date of 11,690 ± 250 BP (IJ-452) and 11,360 ± 260 BP (A-1202) (Long and Martin 1974). Solid carbon dates are 8527 ± 250 and 10455 ± 340 (Kurtén and Anderson 1980, citing Mehringer 1967). Rancholabrean.

Publications.—Harrington, 1933; Harris 1985; Kurtén and Anderson 1980; Laudermilk and Munz 1934; Mehringer 1967; Stock 1931.

Fauna.—

AVES

• Gymnogyps californianus (Holocene?) Brodkorb 1964

• Nothrotheriops shastensis Hester 1960
• Lepus townsendii
• Canis lupus or dirus Hester 1960 ( C. dirus )
• Mustela sp.
• Equus cf. occidentalis
• Equus sp. (smaller) (tent. E. conversidens — AHH)
• Hemiauchenia sp. Hester 1960
• Camelops sp. Hester 1960
• Ovis canadensis K∓A 1980

Last Update: 7 September 1998.