NEW GEOLOGICAL CONTEXT AND SITE FORMATION PROCESSES OF THE SANTA ISABEL DE RANERO PALAEONTOLOGICAL SITE (MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE; KARRANTZA, BISCAY, NORTHERN IBERIAN PENINSULA)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54103/2039-4942/30597

Keywords:

Ursus deningeri; Panthera spelaea; Taphonomic analysis; Demographic profile

Abstract

The Santa Isabel de Ranero (SIR) assemblage is one of the most significant collections of Ursus deningeri in the Iberian Peninsula. This study aims to characterise the formation processes of the site using a combined palaeobiological, geological and taphonomic approach. Fossil remains were recovered from four different sectors of the cave: Entrance and Esparta, which produced small surface collections, Bear, and Lion. The Bear Sector has provided evidence of, at least, 16 U. deningeri individuals and one lion dated to c. 300 ka (MIS 8). Two thirds of the bears are either late juveniles or early prime adults, and the sex of nine of these individuals has been determined: seven females and two males. Based on the presence of all anatomical parts, the absence of anthropogenic marks, and the low percentage of carnivore modifications, humans and hyaenas can be ruled out as the primary accumulating agents. Based on the demographic profile and the absence of shed deciduous dentition, we can also rule out the possibility that this accumulation is related to mortality during birthing or hibernation. We propose that this bear accumulation is the result of a natural endokarstic trap, probably originating from the upper conduit where the Esparta Sector is located. The Lion Sector yielded a limited assemblage from the Late Pleistocene, associated with allochthonous anorthic ferruginous nodules, which would suggest a natural trap directly connected to the exterior. The SIR assemblage highlights the important role of natural traps in reconstructing Pleistocene ecosystems in the Cantabrian region.

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Author Biographies

  • MARTIN ARRIOLABENGOA, Universidad del País Vasco, University of the Basque Country

    Dept. Geología, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (EHU). Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain

  • NOHEMI SALA, National Research Center on Human Evolution

    Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Paseo de la Sierra de Atapuerca 3, 09002 Burgos, Spain

  • ADRIÁN PABLOS, Complutense University of Madrid

    Departamento de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y Paleontología Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, José Antonio Novais 12, 28040, Madrid, Spain

  • VIRGINIA MARTÍNEZ-PILLADO

    Dept. Geología, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (EHU). Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain

  • PALOMA LÓPEZ-GUERRERO, Natural History Museum Vienna

    Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Wien, Austria

  • ADRIANA OLIVER, University of Vigo

     

    Mapas Lab, departamento de Ecoloxía e bioloxía animal, Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain

  • MÓNICA VILLALBA DE ALVARADO, University of the Basque Country

    Departamento de Procesos Psicológicos Básicos y Desarrollo, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (EHU), Tolosa Hiribidea, 70, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain

  • ALVAR MANJÓN-GARCÍA, University of the Basque Country

    Departamento de Genética, Antropología Física y Fisiología Animal, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (EHU). Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain

  • HARKAITZ EGUIRAUN, University of the Basque Country

    Departamento de Expresión Gráfica y Proyectos de Ingeniería. Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (EHU). Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Bilbao. Plaza Ingeniero Torres Quevedo 1. 48013 Bilbao, Spain

  • LAURA GARCÍA BOULLOSA, Arkeologia Museoa. Mallona Galtzada, 2, 48006 Bilbao, Spain

    Arkeologia Museoa. Mallona Galtzada, 2, 48006 Bilbao, Spain

  • JAVIER MORENO, ADES Espeleologia Elkartea, Gernika, Spain

    ADES Espeleologia Elkartea, Gernika, Spain

  • ANDRÉS NEILA, Grupo Espeleológico Esparta. Barakaldo, Spain

    Grupo Espeleológico Esparta. Barakaldo, Spain

  • JAIME ORTIZ, Grupo Espeleológico Esparta. Barakaldo, Spain

    Grupo Espeleológico Esparta. Barakaldo, Spain

  • MIKEL ARLEGI, Museum of Man

    Histoire Naturelle des Humanités Préhistoriques (HNHP, UMR 7194), PaleoFED, MNHN/CNRS/UPVD, Musée de l'Homme, Paris, France

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16-10-2026

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Vol. 132 No. 3 (2026)

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Copyright (c) 2026 ASIER GÓMEZ-OLIVENCIA, MARTIN ARRIOLABENGOA, NOHEMI SALA, ADRIÁN PABLOS, VIRGINIA MARTÍNEZ-PILLADO, PALOMA LÓPEZ-GUERRERO, ADRIANA OLIVER, MÓNICA VILLALBA DE ALVARADO, ALVAR MANJÓN-GARCÍA, HARKAITZ EGUIRAUN, LAURA GARCÍA BOULLOSA, JAVIER MORENO, ANDRÉS NEILA, JAIME ORTIZ, MIKEL ARLEGI

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GÓMEZ-OLIVENCIA, A. et al. (2026) “NEW GEOLOGICAL CONTEXT AND SITE FORMATION PROCESSES OF THE SANTA ISABEL DE RANERO PALAEONTOLOGICAL SITE (MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE; KARRANTZA, BISCAY, NORTHERN IBERIAN PENINSULA)”, RIVISTA ITALIANA DI PALEONTOLOGIA E STRATIGRAFIA , 132(3). doi:10.54103/2039-4942/30597.
Received 2025-12-23
Accepted 2026-10-07
Published 2026-10-16

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