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Basin margin evolution of rift basins is not always well constrained. In the northeastern margin of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin, a revision of a carbonate succession permits deciphering the transition from synto post-rift phases in the poorly studied northwestern margin of the Bortziriak-Cinco Villas massif. The sedimentological analysis shows three main lithofacies, attributed to a shallow-marine, non-rimmed carbonate platform. On the other hand, biostratigraphic analysis based on the presence of Caprina adversa rudist indicates a Cenomanian age for the succession. Thus, this study illustrates the existence of a Cenomanian shallow-marine carbonate platform unconformably overlying the Palaeozoic massif. This platform development was the result of a generalized transgression during the early post-rift stage., La evolución de las cuencas tipo rift en sus márgenes no siempre está bien acotada. En el margen noreste de la Cuenca Vasco-Cantábrica, la revisión de un afloramiento de una sucesión carbonatada ha permitido interpretar la transición entre las fases sin y postrift del escasamente estudiado margen noroeste del macizo paleozoico de Bortziriak-Cinco Villas. El análisis sedimentológico muestra la presencia de tres litofacies atribuidas a una plataforma marina somera sin resalte. La presencia de Caprina adversa indica una edad Cenomaniense para la sucesión estudiada. Dicha plataforma se dispone de forma discordante sobre el macizo paleozoico. Se confirma que el desarrollo de la plataforma fue el resultado de una transgresión generalizada acontecida durante el inicio de la etapa post-rift., Basin margin evolution of rift basins is not always well constrained. In the northeastern margin of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin, a revision of a carbonate succession permits deciphering the transition from synto post-rift phases in the poorly studied northwestern margin of the Bortziriak-Cinco Villas massif. The sedimentological analysis shows three main lithofacies, attributed to a shallow-marine, non-rimmed carbonate platform. On the other hand, biostratigraphic analysis based on the presence of Caprina adversa rudist indicates a Cenomanian age for the succession. Thus, this study illustrates the existence of a Cenomanian shallow-marine carbonate platform unconformably overlying the Palaeozoic massif. This platform development was the result of a generalized transgression during the early post-rift stage., La evolución de las cuencas tipo rift en sus márgenes no siempre está bien acotada. En el margen noreste de la Cuenca Vasco-Cantábrica, la revisión de un afloramiento de una sucesión carbonatada ha permitido interpretar la transición entre las fases sin y postrift del escasamente estudiado margen noroeste del macizo paleozoico de Bortziriak-Cinco Villas. El análisis sedimentológico muestra la presencia de tres litofacies atribuidas a una plataforma marina somera sin resalte. La presencia de Caprina adversa indica una edad Cenomaniense para la sucesión estudiada. Dicha plataforma se dispone de forma discordante sobre el macizo paleozoico. Se confirma que el desarrollo de la plataforma fue el resultado de una transgresión generalizada acontecida durante el inicio de la etapa post-rift., Basin margin evolution of rift basins is not always well constrained. In the northeastern margin of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin, a revision of a carbonate succession permits deciphering the transition from synto post-rift phases in the poorly studied northwestern margin of the Bortziriak-Cinco Villas massif. The sedimentological analysis shows three main lithofacies, attributed to a shallow-marine, non-rimmed carbonate platform. On the other hand, biostratigraphic analysis based on the presence of Caprina adversa rudist indicates a Cenomanian age for the succession. Thus, this study illustrates the existence of a Cenomanian shallow-marine carbonate platform unconformably overlying the Palaeozoic massif. This platform development was the result of a generalized transgression during the early post-rift stage., La evolución de las cuencas tipo rift en sus márgenes no siempre está bien acotada. En el margen noreste de la Cuenca Vasco-Cantábrica, la revisión de un afloramiento de una sucesión carbonatada ha permitido interpretar la transición entre las fases sin y postrift del escasamente estudiado margen noroeste del macizo paleozoico de Bortziriak-Cinco Villas. El análisis sedimentológico muestra la presencia de tres litofacies atribuidas a una plataforma marina somera sin resalte. La presencia de Caprina adversa indica una edad Cenomaniense para la sucesión estudiada. Dicha plataforma se dispone de forma discordante sobre el macizo paleozoico. Se confirma que el desarrollo de la plataforma fue el resultado de una transgresión generalizada acontecida durante el inicio de la etapa post-rift.

Here we report the preliminary results from the 2015–19 s prospecting explorations, excavations, and research from Juan Labranz Cave, a new Quaternary palaeontological deposit rich in mammals that offers information on the faunal context of the southern sub-plateau. This cave is located on the border of the Iberian range, at the Sierra de Valdecabras, Cuenca, at 1.279 metres above sea level. This study includes the first georeferenced digital map of the cave and a preliminary analysis of its chronology, palynology, macro- and microvertebrate palaeontology, and taphonomy. The cave is interpreted as a hyena den, and this would represent one of the highest elevation cavities where the activity of this taxon is recorded. Moreover, we consider this site important and unique because it constitutes one of the very few Pleistocene cave sites in the southern sub-plateau. It is strategically located on the border between the Iberian range and the Tajo Tertiary Basin, at the Júcar River valley, which represents the only great natural corridor that covers hundreds of kilometres and connects two very important palaeoecological areas, the interior of the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean basin.

[Abstract] Speleothems are a recognized source of paleoclimatic information, but their value as a source of signals from human activities in caves with an archaeological record has rarely been explored. Previous studies of speleothems in the Sierra de Atapuerca karst system (Burgos, northern Spain) revealed an important human fossil record, provided information about human activities in and around these caves, and the impacts on their natural environment. The present study reports the results of molecular characterization of dark-colored laminae from the stalagmites Ilargi (Galería de las Estatuas) and GS1, GS2, and GS3 (Galería del Silo), by pyrolysis-GC-MS (Py-GC-MS) and thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation (THM-GC-MS). The features of the organic matter demonstrate the presence of (1) a dominant aliphatic fraction probably from in situ bacterial and ex situ plant-derived lipids, (2) black carbon (from soot and/or charcoal), (3) polysaccharides and N-rich moieties (probably from bat guano and microbial sources), and (4) a signal of terpenoid derivatives that may originate from the overlying limestone (kerogen) and extant gymnosperm resin (soils) or cyanobacteria (cave). Some plant-derived lignin may be present as well but was not identified unambiguously. It is concluded that this approach allows identifying multiple general sources of organic matter which can help understand speleothem formation processes, and evidence of soot deposition could be clearly linked to human activities.

[EN] Locating and quantifying groundwater flow in many built-up areas are a priority with regard to its complete restoration. In this work, a hydrogeological survey of the surroundings of the Punta Begona Galleries (Getxo, Bizkaia), built on a coastal cliff, was completed by using ground penetrating radar (GPR) testing. Thus, the preliminary characterization of soils and rocks in accessible areas of the cliff was first improved by hydrogeological information gathered from a single survey borehole, including permeability measurements by low pressure injection tests (LPTs) and continuous water level monitoring. As a complementary method, the non-destructive GPR technique was performed during both dry and wet hydrological periods and in tandem with the injection tests, providing more complete spatial and temporal images of water flows. Specifically, GPR allows mapping of flow paths in soils and assessing the continuity of fractures in rock masses. Altogether, this complementary approach provides greater knowledge of complex underground flow dynamics in built environments, thus making it easier to make decisions for their management