Landscape evolution and chronostratigraphic correlations of the cave entrance depositional environments and palaeosols of the Gran Dolina unit TD10 (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain)

A detailed analysis of the Gran Dolina Unit TD10 at the Atapuerca archaeological site reveals the complex evolution of cave entrance deposits, transitioning from talus scree to stratified slope deposits. The study identifies three distinct lithostratigraphic units (TD10a, TD10b, TD10c) and correlates them with marine isotopic stages using Bayesian chronostratigraphic modeling, providing insights into Middle Pleistocene palaeoenvironmental conditions. Field observations and microscopic analysis of sedimentary microfacies, combined with palaeoecological reconstructions, shed light on the formation processes of prehistoric soils and archaeological records. The research highlights chronological uncertainties between Bayesian dates and buried palaeosols, offering a refined understanding of the site's depositional history.

Warnitz, L., Martín-Perea, D. M., Ollé, A., Saladié, P., Rodríguez-Hidalgo, A., Mosquera, M., Parés, J. M., Carbonell, E., & Vallverdú, J. (2025). Landscape evolution and chronostratigraphic correlations of the cave entrance depositional environments and palaeosols of the Gran Dolina unit TD10 (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain). Catena, 258, 109191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2025.109191