Paleogeographical reconstruction of the Pleistocene sites in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain)

Abstract

The Sierra de Atapuerca is a carbonated gentle anticlinal ridge belonging to the NW extreme of the Iberian Chain (North-Central Spain, Burgos), which has been isolated (at least from the Oligocene) by subhorizontal continental endoreic sediments of the NE Duero Cenozoic Basin. The shift to exoreic conditions in the Duero Basin caused the onset of a downcutting staircase model, which caused the development of the Atapuerca multilevel cave system, containing several sites from the Early Pleistocene. In this work, we carry out the palaeogeographical reconstruction of the SW flank of the Sierra de Atapuerca, where these archaeo-palaeoanthropological sites are located. These works are based on detailed geomorphological, geological and stratigraphical analysis, combined with GPS and 3D LiDAR data, and GIS and finite elements modelling. This work combines the reconstruction of Pleistocene base levels, the analysis of valley longitudinal profiles, the study of slope retreatment, the reconstruction of cave morphologies, and the reconstruction of post-depositional deformation features shown by the site sediments. These reconstructions have provided the landscape and karstic palaeogeographical habitats during the Pleistocene hominid occupation of the Sierra de Atapuerca.