[Coyoteman]

Got it; many thanks. Care to share any insights you may have of how one is able to get DNA from fossilized turds??? My (maybe simplified)understanding of a fossil is that ALL material, including organic, has been replaced by mineralized deposits over the years/centuries. No?

Think mummified rather than fossilized. These are dry cave deposits.

[ForGod'sSake]

Thanks. If I’m following, it looks like these particular “gifts” were laid down in the latrine area of the cave then almost immediately sealed off somehow from the outside world. Is that about the size of it? A thought wandered by, could it also be these turds were covered by the, er, depositor — sortof like yer average house cat attempts to do after making a deposit??? There would be certain advantages to the inhabitants of the cave, eh?