Comparing past and present. The Holocene and Marine Isotope Stage 3 microvertebrate assemblage of Ararat-1 Cave, Armenia

The Ararat-1 Cave site, situated within the dry mountain steppe zone of Armenia at an elevation of 1,034 m, preserves a stratigraphic sequence spanning Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 and the Holocene (MIS 1). The site has yielded a rich microvertebrate assemblage comprising 18 extant taxa, including rodents, insectivores, lagomorphs, amphibians, and reptiles. Middle Paleolithic deposits (52-35 kyrs, MIS 3) are characterized by taxa such as Chionomys nivalis (Snow Vole), Ellobius sp. (Mole Voles), Microtus arvalis (Common Vole), Microtus socialis (Social Vole), Meriones sp. (Jirds), Mus sp. (Mice), Nothocricetulus migratorius (Grey Dwarf Hamster), Scarturus sp. (Jerboas), Crocidura sp. (White-toothed Shrews), Erinaceus concolor (Southern White-breasted Hedgehog), Ochotona cf. rufescens (Afghan Pika), Bufotes gr. viridis (Green Toads), Agamidae indet. (Agamids), Erycinae indet. (Sand Boas), Colubridae indet. 1 and 2 (Colubrids), Natrix tessellata (Dice Snake), and Vipera gr. berus (Vipers). Holocene layers (SU0.1–SU1.3) exhibit a similar taxonomic composition, though lacking C. nivalis, Ellobius sp., O. cf. rufescens, as well as Erycinae indet., Colubridae indet. 1 and 2, and Natrix tessellata. A comprehensive taxonomic and taphonomic analysis of the small mammal and herpetofaunal assemblages was conducted, employing the Taxonomic Habitat Index Method to reconstruct local ecological conditions during MIS 3 and the Holocene. Small mammal taxa indicate the coexistence of both cold- and warm-adapted species, while herpetofaunal assemblages predominantly exhibit Eastern-Mediterranean and Turano-Mediterranean affinities, with the V. berus complex being a notable exception due to its European or Sibero-European distribution. Paleoenvironmental reconstruction reveals a mosaic landscape comprising open semi-arid shrublands and grasslands interspersed with forested patches, rocky terrain, and a perennial water source. This environment closely resembles the modern “mountain steppe” and “dry mountain steppe” biomes of southern Armenia. The findings from Ararat-1 Cave underscore the ecological diversity present in the Southern Caucasus during both the Pleistocene and Holocene and contribute to a deeper understanding of the region's paleoenvironments.