Fossil rodents in Mylodon Cave as indicators of late Pleistocene–Holocene environmental evolution in southern Chile

Datos Bibliográficos

ID24085525
AutoresUlyses F J Pardiñas (0000-0001-9496-5433, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, autor de correspondencia), Luis Alberto Borrero (0000-0002-8193-1573, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Luis Borrero, Fabiana Martins (0009-0008-5591-6063, Universidad de Magallanes), Fabiana M Martin, Mauricio Massone (Universidad de Magallanes), Fernando J Fernández (0000-0002-6002-0113, Universidad de Buenos Aires)
Año2022
Volumen105
Páginas218-234
Fecha de publicación2022-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaQuaternary Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0033-5894 • E-ISSN: 1096-0287
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/qua.2021.44
OpenAlexW4232799994
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas3
Referencias citadas48

We conducted the first taphonomic and paleoenvironmental study based on late Pleistocene–Holocene small mammal remains recovered from the famous Mylodon Cave (Cerro Benítez area, Última Esperanza, Chile). Most of the analyzed material came from the extensive excavations made by Earl Saxon in 1976. We also studied late Holocene small mammal samples of the neighboring rock shelter Dos Herraduras 1. Analyzed remains were mostly produced by owls, probably living inside the caves. In Mylodon Cave, the higher values of girdle bones are consistent with a windblown litter. We recorded nine species of rodents, seven cricetids, and two caviomorphs; almost all the identified taxa integrate recent local communities. Late Pleistocene–Holocene assemblages are characterized by the chinchilla rat Euneomys , indicating unforested areas around the caves under cold and moist climatic conditions. Middle Holocene amelioration is reflected by incremental rodent species richness, including the first record of taxa clearly associated with forest (e.g., Abrothrix lanosa ). Late Holocene assemblages are markedly stable, indicating local conditions similar to the current (historical) environment. Quaternary rodents from Cerro Benítez area do not indicate abrupt environmental changes during middle–late Holocene, but a progressive trend towards forest increase.

Archaeology · Cave · Geography · Holocene · Holocene climatic optimum · Pleistocene · Quaternary · Taphonomy · Evolution and Paleontology Studies · Geology · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Paleontology · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology