Estudio geológico, estratigráfico y sedimentológico de la cueva de mamíferos del Pleistoceno de Santa Rosa (Perú): interpretación paleo-ambiental

• Main Author: François Pujos
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Institut Français d'Études Andines 2002-04-01
• Series: Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Études Andines
• Subjects: mammals; Andean cave from Peru; geology; stratigraphy; sedimentology; paleo-environment
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/bifea/6939
• ISSN: 0303-7495; 2076-5827

Remains of a Pleistocene (Lujanian) Megatheriinae specimen (Mammalia: Xenarthra) have recently been discovered in the Cave of Santa Rosa, northern Peru. The discovery of a sub-complete skeleton of Gravigrada is exceptional in Andes. It represents a new Megatherium species. The sedimentological, petrographical, stratigraphic and palynological study shows that the cavity: ■ is part of a karst system (common in Peruvian Andes) hollowed out in limestone of the Celendín Formation (Coniacian – Lower Santonian); ■ the hollowing and filling mechanisms that have occured are: 1) digging of the shelter and deposition of yellow calcareo-clayey sands due to the important erosion of calcareous mountain; 2) gulling and erosion that provoked the collapse of the shelter roof; 3) deposition of brown calcareo-clayey sands bearing mammals remains (Megatheriidae, Camelidae, Cervidae, and Muridae) and numerous floral remains and local presence of pollen. Palynological elements can be partitioned into two groups: 1) fern spores from the surrounding areas; 2) rarer undifferentiated colonial spores of probable algae. These observations suggest cooler and wetter conditions than nowadays.