New Pleistocene mammal site in Črni Kal quarry (Primorska region, Slovenia) with discussion on problems of protection and preservation of fossil sites in quarries

Abstract

The Črni Kal quarry has been known for decades for fossils of Pleistocene mammal preserved in sinkholes or karst fissures fillings. We present some of the new fossil material discovered in the northern part of the quarry in 2016. The new site is an expanded karst fissure or cave filled with flowstone rubble and fine grained sediments with only one layer of bone breccia. The preliminary results of the analysis of fossil vertebrate remains show the presence of Merck's rhinoceros, currently unidentified species of deer and fragmented teeth of carnivores. Furthermore, we discuss some problems in documenting, protecting and preserving of Pleistocene fossil vertebrate sites in quarries in Slovenia.