Contributions to Geology 13.2

Bone strontium as a dietary indicator in human skeletal populations

ANTOINETTE B. BROWN Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Cainesville, Florida 32611

Pages
47-48

Keywords
strontium, dietary, human, Huitzo, Mexico, protein

Abstract
To entend the use of bone strontium as a dietary indicator in human populations, eleven human skeletal samples from the Huitzo site in Mexico were assayed for strontium. Differences in access to animal protein can be observed within each period to be based on social class and through time can be traced increasing social stratification.

A flamingolike wader from the Eocene of Wyoming

ALAN FEDUCCIA Department of Zoology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N. C. 27514
PAUL O. MCGREW Department of Geology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wy. 82071

Pages
49-62

Keywords
flamingo, Eocene, Wyoming, Green River, bird, Telmabates

Abstract
Several hundred fossil bird bones recovered from the Green River Formation of Wyoming represent a nesting colony of a single species of flamingolike wader, Presbyornis pervetus Wetmore. Originally described as a new family, genus, and species of shorebird (Charadriiformes: Presbyornithidae), the Green River wader is found to be a primitive flamingolike wader closely allied with a larger South American Eocene bird, Telmabates antiquus Howard and is here considered conspecific with the smaller South American form, Telmabates howardae Cracraft. Presbyornis is used here instead of Telmabates, and Presbyornithidae instead of Telmabatidae. Several specimens previously described as auks from the Green River Formation are also probably the flamingo, these include Nautilornis avus Wetmore and Nautilornis proavitus Wetmore.

Significance of thin carbonates in interpreting the depositional environments of thick clastic sequences

E. F. PEARSON Department of Geology and Geography, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211
J. H. HANLEY United States Geological Survey, Denver, CO 80225

Pages
63-66

Keywords
carbonates, clastic, depositional, Wyoming

Abstract
Determining the depositional environment of thin carbonates in thick clastic sequences can aid in paleoenvironmental analysis of the enclosing clastics. Our thesis is based on Walther's Law of facies interpretation and is supported by two examples from Pennsylvanian, Permian and Triassic strata of southeastern Wyoming.

Coprolites of White River (Oligocene) carnivorous mammals: origin and paleoecologic and sedimentologic significance

PAUL EDWARDS and DANIEL YATKOLA Division of Vertebrate Paleontology, University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508

Pages
67-74

Keywords
coprolites, mammals, White River, Creodonta, Carnivora

Abstract
Coprolites of carnivorous mammals (Order Creodonta, Order Carnivora) are abundantly preserved in the lower and middle White River Group (Oligocene) of the Great Plains. These coprolites can be divided into three size classes. They could have been buried by ash falls or directly by flood sediments. The abundant preservation of White River coprolites is a function of the grain-size of the burial sediments and of the depositional environment and paleoclimate.

Examination of selected postcranial elements in Pleistocene camelids

JOHN BREYER Geology Department, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb. 68508

Pages
75-86

Keywords
Pleistocene, camelids, postcranial, Tanupolama, Camelops, Titanotylopus, Schultz

Abstract
Character differences, independent of size, exist which allow the calcanea, astragali, metapodials, and proximal phalanges of Tanupolama Stock, Camelops Leidy, and Titanotylopus Barbour and Schultz to be differentiated. Measurements indicate modal size differences among the genera in most parameters chosen for study but size ranges may overlap. Comparison with extant genera reveals the structural similarity of postcranial elements within lineages established by Webb (1965) on the basis of cranial and dental features.