Publication: Un paisaje de la Meseta durante el Pleistoceno Superior. Aspectos
paleontológicos de la Cueva de la Zarzamora (Segovia, España)
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2011
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Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural
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Abstract
En este trabajo se exponen los aspectos paleoecológicos de la cueva de la Zarzamora (Segovia, España); un
yacimiento kárstico del Pleistoceno Superior, que se encuentra en la zona de transición entre la Sierra de Guadarrama
y la Submeseta Norte castellana.
La asociación de macrofauna sugiere un paisaje abierto, dominado por especies pastadoras, équidos (Equus
ferus y Equus hydruntinus) en su mayoría, además de bovinos y rinocerontes. Entre los carnívoros destaca la hiena
manchada (Crocuta crocuta) tanto por la abundancia de restos esqueléticos como por las evidencias de su presencia
en la cueva (coprolitos, marcas de dientes y huesos digeridos). Además hay félidos (cf. Panthera pardus., Lynx sp.),
cánidos (Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes) y una especie de mustélido (Meles meles).
La asociación de micromamíferos, tanto los taxones dominantes (Oryctolagus cuniculus, Microtus cabrerae
y Microtus duodecimcostatus) como el resto de las especies identificadas, es característica de un periodo climático
templado. La ausencia de especies del Pleistoceno Medio indica una edad más reciente dentro del Pleistoceno Superior.
Los resultados del análisis polínico obtenido de coprolitos de hiena corroboran la existencia de un paisaje abierto
con estepas, prados y pequeños bosquetes aclarados dominados por robles y encinas, además de Juniperus y taxones
mesófilos.
This study presents paleoecological aspects of the Zarzamora Cave karstic site (Segovia, Spain). This site is a Late Pleistocene cave deposit in a limestone outcrop that extends from the crystalline piedmont of the Sierra de Guadarrama to the Tertiary Castilian Plateau. The Zarzamora Cave is a small gallery with a NE-SW direction and approximately 1 m high, 2 m wide and around 7 m in longitudinal accessible development. The total length is still unknown due to the sediment infilling. The “keyhole shaped” section suggests that the karstic system evolved from phreatic to vadose conditions. The sedimentary infilling is around 90 cm thick and four stratigraphic units have been identified. The upper three units are made of crystalline dolomite matrix with macro and microvertebrate fossils. The lower unit is made of plastic clay with no paleontological evidence. The entrance to the Zarzamora Cave is a few meters away from the entrance of the Búho Cave. It was during the excavation of the latter in the late years of the 1980s that the entrance to the Zarzamora Cave was found. Then, the site was divided in three sectors: Búho Cave, Zarzamora Cave and Cata Exterior.
This study presents paleoecological aspects of the Zarzamora Cave karstic site (Segovia, Spain). This site is a Late Pleistocene cave deposit in a limestone outcrop that extends from the crystalline piedmont of the Sierra de Guadarrama to the Tertiary Castilian Plateau. The Zarzamora Cave is a small gallery with a NE-SW direction and approximately 1 m high, 2 m wide and around 7 m in longitudinal accessible development. The total length is still unknown due to the sediment infilling. The “keyhole shaped” section suggests that the karstic system evolved from phreatic to vadose conditions. The sedimentary infilling is around 90 cm thick and four stratigraphic units have been identified. The upper three units are made of crystalline dolomite matrix with macro and microvertebrate fossils. The lower unit is made of plastic clay with no paleontological evidence. The entrance to the Zarzamora Cave is a few meters away from the entrance of the Búho Cave. It was during the excavation of the latter in the late years of the 1980s that the entrance to the Zarzamora Cave was found. Then, the site was divided in three sectors: Búho Cave, Zarzamora Cave and Cata Exterior.