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Se dan a conocer los vegetales fósiles (macrorrestos foliares, frutos y palinomorfos) y una asociación de microvertebrados encontrados en yacimientos descubiertos en la “Unidad Intermedia” del Mioceno de Madrid. Los restos paleobotánicos y palinológicos se encuentran en cinco yacimientos, mientras que los de microvertebrados aparecen en otro distinto, cercano a los anteriores y estratigráficamente por encima de éstos. En general la palinoflora identificada es bastante uniforme en todos los yacimientos; no así la macroflora que presenta peculiaridades en alguno de ellos. Los datos paleobotánicos ponen de manifiesto una vegetación muy diversa con géneros y especies característicos de medios montanos, abanicos aluviales, márgenes lacustre-palustres y lagunares. Los resultados del estudio de la macroflora y de los palinomorfos se representan y ubican en un perfil sintético y en un bloque diagrama esquemático. [ABSTRACT] Some palaeobotanical assemblages (spores, pollen, leaves, seeds and fruits) and microvertebrates found in the “Unidad intermedia” from middle Miocene deposits of the Madrid basin are studied. The fossil plants appear in five sites, and the vertebrate fossils in other site, near the formers, but stratigraphically above these. The palynological assemblages are quite similar in all the sites, but the macroremains associations present taphonomic peculiarities in some of them.The fossil plants identified show some elements of acuatic, flooded, riparian and of river banks environments with some deciduous and evergreen forest taxa. The palaeobotanical data are symbolized and ecologically located in a syntetic section and in a diagram. The different environments which had been delimited are represented. The vertebrate fossil assemblage is made of two taxa of Reptilia (one Lacertidae and one Anguidae), and, among the mammals, the Sciuridae Heteroxerus cf. rubricati, the Gliridae cf. Armantomys sp., the Cricetidae Megacricetodon collongensis - crusafonti, one Insectivora and some remains of Lagomorpha. From a biostratigraphical point of view, this faunal assemblage may corresponds to the Middle Miocene, to the Upper Aragonian, but not to latest among the Zones F, G1 and G2 (sensu Daams and Freudenthal, 1988a) that can be correlated with the NM 6 Unit (sensu Mein, 1975). This fauna suggests a mainly open environment and a relatively dry climate.

En este trabajo se pretende dar una visión de conjunto sobre el estado actual de conocimiento de los micromamíferos (órdenes Rodentia, Lagomorpha, Insectivora y Chiroptera) del Cuaternario peninsular español, elaborada a partir de los datos publi­cados hasta el momento. Este se aborda analizando sucesivamente cada una de las divisiones del Cuaternario, comentando los datos existentes y la problemática particular de cada una de ellas, fundamentalmente desde el punto de vista cronoestratigrá­fico.

The occupation of the Iberian Peninsula during the Upper Palaeolithic is mainly known from archaeological sites located in the Cantabrian and Mediterranean regions. Numerous sites have been excavated in these two regions when few sites are found in the interior of the peninsula. Several authors explain this scarcity of sites, in the inner region during the Upper Palaeolithic, by a decrease of human population resulting from a low capacity of human groups to adapt to the cold conditions of the Marine Isotopic Stage 2 (MIS 2), i.e. the effect of cold climate on human populations might have been stronger in the interior of the peninsula than in coastal areas. Recent studies underline the evidence of prehistoric occupation during this period in that region. It has been suggested that these occupations are isolated events limited to the warmest phases of the end of the MIS 2. The present study focuses on zooarchaeological and taphonomic aspects of the Magdalenian site of La Peña de Estebanvela (Segovia, Spain). Our results show that this site was recurrently occupied during the Magdalenian period, including warm and cold phases, which provide a new evidence of sustainable presence of human populations in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula at the end of the Upper Palaeolithic.We further propose hypotheses on the subsistence strategies (e.g. availability of hunting resources) developed at La Peña de Estebanvela and in a larger context including other Magdalenian sites of the inner region of the Peninsula.

In the eastern Iberian Peninsula, the archaeological site of Cuesta de la Bajada (Teruel, Spain) has produced some of the earliest evidence of Middle Paleolithic stone tool traditions together with evidence of equid and cervid carcasses defleshed by hominins. Based on the numerical age of 317-240 ka derived from OSL, ESR and AAR dating methods for the lower part of the Cuesta de la Bajada sedimentological sequence (level CB3), as well as the biochronological inferences for the small and large mammal associations, the site can be attributed to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 8 or the end of MIS 9. As amphibians and reptiles have precise environmental and climatic requirements and do not differ at species level from the extant herpetofauna of the Iberian Peninsula, they can contribute to the reconstruction of the landscape and climate. In this paper, the fossil amphibians and squamate reptiles from Cuesta de la Bajada are studied for the first time. The mutual ecogeographic range and habitat weighting methods were applied to the herpetofaunal assemblages to estimate quantitative data for the landscape and climate reconstructions. The climate is shown to have been colder and wetter than today in the interior of eastern Spain, with mean annual temperature up to 2.5 °C lower and mean annual precipitation slightly higher than at present. The monthly climatic reconstruction shows differences in the distribution of precipitation over the course of the year, with more abundant precipitation from late autumn to spring (i.e. from October to May), and more or less similar precipitation to today during the summer months (July and August). This suggests there was stronger rainfall seasonality between winter and summer than currently occurs. The paleoenvironmental reconstruction based on the herpetofaunal assemblage depicts a poorly forested (15–20%) patchy landscape with a large representation of dry meadows and scrubland habitats together with well-evidenced aquatic habitats. These reconstructions are consistent with other proxies recovered at Cuesta de la Bajada (pollen, small and large mammals) as well as other European MIS 8–9 paleoclimatic records. We can thus correlate levels CB2 and CB3 with the later part of MIS 8 (265-257 ka) or with a humid fluctuation within the MIS9b (303-290 ka). It is also possible to provide a new description of the environmental and climatic conditions that occurred in inner Spain during a cold period of the late Middle Pleistocene.

[ES] En el trabajo presentamos el nivel gravetiense de Coímbre, uno de los contados ejemplos de esta cronología en el centro-occidente cantábrico. Se trata de uno de los yacimientos de mayor interés para el análisis del Gravetiense cerca de su margen occidental de expansión por el continente europeo. Mediante el análisis arqueozoológico y tafonómico de la fauna, de la industria lítica, los restos arqueobotánicos, la interpretación de la secuencia arqueológica y sedimentológica, y la obtención de dataciones AMS, se han podido analizar las ocupaciones gravetienses de Coímbre bajo una perspectiva territorial, donde las estrategias de susbsistencia desarrolladas son determinantes para interpretar el tipo de ocupación existente. En el marco de la región cantábrica, podemos interpretar la existencia de un patrón de movilidad y subsistencia determinado, desarrollado por estas poblaciones humanas, que se manifiesta como una ocupación efímera, de tipo logístico y puntual, ligada posiblemente con un eje de tránsito en sentido este-oeste. Esto supone uno de los elementos de mayor interés que aporta este estudio., [EN] Coímbre is one of the few Gravettian sites the middle-western part of Cantabria. It is one of the most interesting sites for the analysis of the Gravettian close to the boundary of its western expansion in Europe. Zooarchaeological and taphonomical study of the faunal and archaeobotanical remains and the lithic industry and the interpretation of its AMS-dated archaeological and sedimentological sequence make it possible to analyse the Gravettian settlement in Coímbre cave using a territorial perspective. The subsistence strategies developed in Coímbre have been determinant in the interpretation of its occupation patterns. Thus, we can assess the existence of the specific mobility and subsistence patterns developed by these human groups in the framework of Cantabria. This pattern shows an ephemeral logistic and punctual occupation of the cave, probably linked to an eastern-western corridor. This is one of the paper’s most interesting contributions.

The aim of this work is to study from a taphonomic view the small mammals assemblage located on the Pleistocene site known as PRERESA. The small mammal fossiliferous layer is a silt level located at a fluvial terrace. The samples studied included remains from rodents (Minimum Number of Elements: MNE = 373) and lagomorphs (MNE = 372). During the excavation seasons, a distinct high concentration of small mammals was recovered apart, named as fossil ‘pellet’. We consider this ‘fossil pellet’ to be an aggregation of several pellets and it has been taphonomically analyzed apart and included in this study. The presence of such concentrations/aggregations is uncommon in this type of open-air sites. This aggregation contains 253 MNE fossil bones. The taphonomic study has considered three main aspects: anatomical representation, fragmentation, and corrosion by digestion. Due to the location of the site on a fluvial system, transport effects and abrasion were analyzed as well. The results obtained show a high representation of cranial elements (especially lagomorphs) as well as a high fragmentation of both cranial and postcranial elements. Digestion observed in this assemblage affects dental remains below 30% in both rodents and lagomorphs, being light and moderate digestion the most frequent degrees, but all samples reach extreme grades of digestion (in molars < 3%). Transport was analyzed using Voorhies groups (1969). All groups were present, even the easiest to transport. Group III (cranial remains) was the best represented. The simultaneous presence of all Voorhies groups suggests a low or null rate of transport. Results could indicate that the small mammal assemblage of PRERESA were produced by a nocturnal raptor, most likely an Eagle owl (Bubo bubo), whose nest or roosting site was installed near the fluvial channel., The archeological excavation of PRERESA has been funded by the Dirección General de Patrimonio Histórico (PR170/04-13244; PR42/05-14071; 1962/2006/00) and the Dirección General de Investigación of Comunidad de Madrid (06/123/2003). This research has also been benefited of funding from the research project CGL 2016–79334 of the Spanish Government.

Traditionally, the Iberian Peninsula has been considered to be a “land of rabbits”, a notion reinforced through the frequent appearance of these animals throughout the Palaeolithic on Mediterranean sites. However, the Cantabrian coast has shown a different pattern, with rabbits being scarce or exceptional at most Northern peninsular sites, with only a few evidences of exploitation. Nevertheless, lagomorphs represent around 10% of the bone assemblage at the Upper Magdalenian levels of Coímbre Cave (Peñamellera Alta, Asturias). In this paper, we conduct a taphonomical analysis of the rabbit assemblage from Coímbre Cave. We note that bones have been exposed to several taphonomical processes, including carnivore tooth marks, chemical alterations on teeth caused by raptor digestion, and the presence of cut-marks on some bone surfaces. Therefore, we argue that the rabbit assemblage at Coímbre is the result of a complex taphonomical history, with evidence for both anthropogenic activity and the actions of other biological agents. This new evidence retrieved from Coímbre Cave further highlights its exceptionality within other Cantabrian sites., This research was part of Project: "Paleoecología y Poblamiento en la Cuenca Media del Río Cares durante el Pleistoceno Superior: La cueva de Coímbre (Alles, Peñamellera Alta)", autorized by the Dirección General de Patrimonio Cultural de la Consejería de Cultura del Principado de Asturias with founds from the Research Group: Investigación de Alto Rendimiento de Prehistoria de la Universidad del País Vasco (IT-288-07) and the project HAR 2008–3976/HIST del Ministerio de Educación for the season of 2008, the Sociedad de Ciencias de Aranzadi in 2009 and the Ma. Cristina Masaveu Peterson Foundation since 2010.

The use of bone as fuel has been already documented in some sites dated to the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. They contribute to a longer combustion time due to their durability; consequently, they are useful to reduce the need for firewood, a good advantage in open palaeoenvironmental contexts with limited arboreal vegetation. The use of bones as fuel can be identified by several lines of evidence. The main one is a large number of burned bones, with an intense cremation–charring or calcination, together with high fragmentation resulting from the long contact with the fire. Other features may be present, although they can also result from individual circumstances. They include either the presence of complete skeletal profiles–which implies using all the bones of the animal– or a selection of the anatomical parts which contribute better to combustion, i.e. epiphyses and axial elements. In this article, we argue that the faunal assemblage of level Co.B.6 of Coímbre cave fully corresponds to this model. Moreover, this level coincides with a cold palaeoclimatic event, which was correlative to the climatic deterioration that occurred at the end of MIS 3, and an open environment. Thus, we propose that this level contains the first known use of bones as fuel in the Cantabrian Gravettian.

[EN]: The Cuesta del Rey mammal sites located on the NE border of the Duero Basin are of great importance with regard to understand the general biostratigraphy of the basin, because Miocene mammal sites are extremely scarce in this area in comparison with the central part of the basin. The mammals identified in Cuesta del Rey-1 are: Eulipotyphla: cf. Miosorex sp.; Rodentia: Heteroxerus sp., Armantomys cf. tricristatus, Megacricetodon ibericus, Megacricetodon minor-Megacricetodon debruijni, Hispanomys sp. And Democricetodon sp. The Cuesta del Rey-1 rodent assemblage is characteristic of the end of the upper Aragonian (MN 7/8, end of the middle Miocene), equivalent to the local subzone G3 of the G zone. The presence of the genera Heteroxerus and Armantomys, and the predominance of Megacricetodon (with 80% of the total percentage of the minimum number of individuals of the micromammals) suggested an open savannah or steppe palaeoenvironment. The mammals identified in Cuesta del Rey-3 are: Rodentia: Megacricetodon cf. ibericus; Artiodactyla: Dorcatherium sp. and Listriodon cf. splendens. Dorcatherium sp. represents the first appearance of the Tragulidae family in the Duero Basin, suggesting the existence of permanent watercourses., [ES]: Los yacimientos con mamíferos de Cuesta del Rey, situados en el borde NE de la cuenca del Duero, tienen una gran importancia para el conocimiento general de la biostratigrafía de la cuenca debido a la extrema escasez de yacimientos miocenos con mamíferos en comparación con las partes centrales de la misma. Los mamíferos identifi cados en Cuesta del Rey-1 son: Eulipotyphla: cf. Miosorex sp.; Rodentia: Heteroxerus sp., Armantomys cf. tricristatus, Megacricetodon ibericus, Megacricetodon minor-Megacricetodon debruijni, Hispanomys sp. y Democricetodon sp. Esta asociación, principalmente por la composición de los roedores, es característica del fi nal del Aragoniense superior (fi nal del Mioceno medio), de la subzona G3 de la zona G, unidades MN 7/8. La presencia de los géneros Heteroxerus, Armantomys, y el predominio de Megacricetodon (que constituye el 80 % del porcentaje total del número mínimo de individuos de los micromamíferos), sugieren un ambiente abierto de tipo sabana o estepa. Los mamíferos identifi cados en Cuesta del Rey-3 son: Rodentia: Megacricetodon cf. ibericus; Artiodactyla: Listriodon cf. splendens and Dorcatherium sp. El tragúlido Dorcatherium sp. representa la primera aparición de la familia en la cuenca del Duero, y sugiere la existencia de cursos de agua permanentes., Support from the Project CGL2015-68333-P (MINECO/FEDER, UE) and the Research Group BSCH-UCM 910607 is gratefully acknowledged.

Cuesta de la Bajada is a Middle Pleistocene site (MIS 8-9) in which some of the earliest evidence of Middle Paleolithic stone tool tradition is documented. The small format tool assemblage, dominated by simple flakes and scrapers, is associated to abundant remains of equids and cervids, in which both percussion and cut marks are well represented. The anatomical distribution of these bone surface modifications indicate primary access to fleshed carcasses by hominins. Hunting is further supported by the analysis of age profiles, in which prime adults are predominant both in equids and cervids. The taphonomic analysis of the site adds more information to human predatory behaviors as documented in other Middle Pleistocene sites and is one of the best examples of hunting documented in the Middle Pleistocene European archaeological record.

Coímbre is one of the few Gravettian sites the middle- western part of Cantabria. It is one of the most interesting sites for the analysis of the Gravettian close to the boundary of its western expansion in Europe. Zooarchaeological and taphonomical study of the faunal and archaeobotanical remains and the lithic industry and the interpretation of its AMS-dated archaeological and sedimentological sequence make it possible to analyse the Gravettian settlement in Coímbre cave using a territorial perspective. The subsistence strategies developed in Coímbre have been determinant in the interpretation of its occupation patterns. Thus, we can assess the existence of the specific mobility and subsistence patterns developed by these human groups in the framework of Cantabria. This pattern shows an ephemeral logistic and punctual occupation of the cave, probably linked to an eastern-western corridor. This is one of the paper’s most interesting contributions. En el trabajo presentamos el nivel gravetiense de Coímbre, uno de los contados ejemplos de esta cronología en el centro-occidente cantábrico. Se trata de uno de los yacimientos de mayor interés para el análisis del Gravetiense cerca de su margen occidental de expansión por el continente europeo. Mediante el análisis arqueozoológico y tafonómico de la fauna, de la industria lítica, los restos arqueobotánicos, la interpretación de la secuencia arqueológica y sedimentológica, y la obtención de dataciones AMS, se han podido analizar las ocupaciones gravetienses de Coímbre bajo una perspectiva territorial, donde las estrategias de susbsistencia desarrolladas son determinantes para interpretar el tipo de ocupación existente. En el marco de la región cantábrica, podemos interpretar la existencia de un patrón de movilidad y subsistencia determinado, desarrollado por estas poblaciones humanas, que se manifiesta como una ocupación efímera, de tipo logístico y puntual, ligada posiblemente con un eje de tránsito en sentido este-oeste. Esto supone uno de los elementos de mayor interés que aporta este estudio.

[EN]: The micromammals remains from the Late Pleistocene site of the cave of El Castillo studied here in detail, came from the Aurignacian levels 18b and 18c (dated in 40.000-45.000 BP), level 19, and the Musterian levels 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e (dated in 41.000-49.000 BP), 21a and 21b. The micromammal association is the following: Erinaceus europaeus, Crocidura russula, Sorex coronatus, Sorex minutus, Neomys fodiens, Talpa europaea, Galemys pyrenaicus, cf. Miniopterus schreibersii, Chiroptera indet., Pliomys lenki, Microtus arvalis – Microtus agrestis, Microtus lusitanicus, Microtus oeconomus, Chionomys nivalis, Arvicola terrestris, Apodemus sylvaticus – Apodemus flavicollis and Lepus sp. Most of these species are in the present fauna of Cantabria, except Pliomys lenki that got extinct in the last third of the Upper Pleistocene, and Microtus oeconomus that disappeared from the Iberian Peninsula during the Holocene, in historical times, and is nowadays present in northern Euroasiatic regions. There is a great continuity of most of the taxa in all the levels. The faunal association seems to indicate a mainly open environment, in general with wet meadows (and few dry meadows), with good vegetation cover in the soil, with perhaps also some tree-covered areas, and some watercourses. The thermophiles indicators are very scarce, which could indicate that the climate could be a lesser temperate than other Upper Pleistocene periods and the present-day climate in the area., [ES]: El material de micromamíferos del yacimiento del Pleistoceno Superior de la cueva de El Castillo, objeto de estudio detallado en este trabajo, proviene de los niveles auriñacienses 18b y 18c (datados en 40.000-45.000 BP), nivel 19, y niveles musterienses 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e (datados en 41.000-49.000 BP), 21a y 21b. La asociación de micromamíferos es la siguiente: Erinaceus europaeus, Crocidura russula, Sorex coronatus, Sorex minutus, Neomys fodiens, Talpa europaea, Galemys pyrenaicus, cf. Miniopterus schreibersii, Chiroptera indet., Pliomys lenki, Microtus arvalis – Microtus agrestis, Microtus lusitanicus, Microtus oeconomus, Chionomys nivalis, Arvicola terrestris, Apodemus sylvaticus – Apodemus flavicollis y Lepus sp. La mayoría de estas especies están presentes en la fauna actual de Cantabria, excepto Pliomys lenki que se extinguió en el último tercio del Pleistoceno Superior, y Microtus oeconomus, que persistió en la península ibérica durante el Holoceno bien avanzado hasta su desaparición en tiempos históricos, y que actualmente está en regiones euroasiáticas más septentrionales. Hay una gran continuidad de la gran mayoría de los taxones en todos los niveles. La fauna en su conjunto parece indicar un medio predominantemente abierto, por lo general de praderas húmedas (y en mucha menor medida praderas secas) con una buena cobertura vegetal a nivel del suelo, en el que habría también algunas zonas arboladas o boscosas, y algún curso de agua. Los indicadores termófilos son escasos y poco abundantes, lo que podría indicar que el clima podría ser algo menos templado que en otros periodos del Pleistoceno Superior y quizás también que actualmente en la zona.

Predation is one of the most recurrent sources of bone accumulations. The influence of predation is widely studied for large mammal sites where humans, acting as predators, produce bone accumulations similar to carnivore accumulations. Similarly, small mammal fossil sites are mainly occupation levels of predators (nests or dens). In both cases, investigations of past events can be compared with present day equivalents or proxies. Chewing marks are sometimes present on large mammal predator accumulations, but digestion traits are the most direct indication of predation, and evidence for this is always present in small mammal (prey) fossil assemblages. Digestion grades and frequency indicates predator type and this is well established since the publication of Andrews (1990). The identification of the predator provides invaluable information for accurate interpretation of the palaeoenvironment. Traditionally, palaeoenvironmental interpretations are obtained from the taxonomic species identified in the site, but rather than providing direct interpretations of the surrounding palaeoenvironment, this procedure actually describes the dietary preferences of the predators and the type of occupation (nests, marking territory, dens, etc). This paper reviews the identification of traits produced by predators on arvicolins, murins and soricids using a method that may be used equally by taxonomists and taphonomists. It aims to provide the “tools” for taxonomists to identify the predator based on their methodology, which is examining the occlusal surfaces of teeth rather than their lateral aspects. This will greatly benefit both the work of taphonomists and taxonomists to recognize signs of predation and the improvement of subsequent palaeoecological interpretations of past organisms and sites by identifying both the prey and the predator.

Resumen: La asociación de micromamíferos determinada en este trabajo es la siguiente: Lagomorpha: Oryctolagus cuniculus; Eulipotyphla: Crocidura cf. russula, cf. Sorex sp., Neomys sp., Soricidae indet. y Talpa sp.; y Rodentia: Eliomys quercinus, Apodemus cf. sylvaticus, Cricetulus (Allocricetus) bursae, Arvicola aff. sapidus, Microtus (Iberomys) brecciensis y Microtus (Terricola) duodecimcostatus. Es una asociación característica del Pleistoceno Medio. El estadio evolutivo de Cricetulus (A.) bursae, Arvicola aff. sapidus y Microtus (I.) brecciensis le aproximan a las poblaciones de dichas especies de algunos yacimientos de la Península Ibérica del Pleistoceno Medio avanzado, pero no final, lo que es acorde con las dataciones numéricas obtenidas en el yacimiento (243-337 ka) que le sitúan en el MIS 8 o 9. Los micromamíferos indican la predominancia de los espacios abiertos con abundante vegetación herbácea y arbustiva, en los que podría haber también alguna zona arbolada. El clima que indican es de tipo mediterráneo, similar al actual en la zona o quizás algo más benigno y más húmedo., The micromammal association established in this work is the following: Lagomorpha: Oryctolagus cuniculus; Eulipotyphla: Crocidura cf. russula, cf. Sorex sp., Neomys sp., Soricidae indet. and Talpa sp.; and Rodentia: Eliomys quercinus, Apodemus cf. sylvaticus, Cricetulus (Allocricetus) bursae, Arvicola aff. sapidus, Microtus (Iberomys) brecciensis and Microtus (Terricola) duodecimcostatus. This association is characteristic of the Middle Pleistocene. The morphological state of Cricetulus (A.) bursae, Arvicola aff. sapidus and Microtus (I.) brecciensis allows to place it in the advanced, but not final, Middle Pleistocene, which agrees with the numerical data of the site (243–337 ka) that places it in the MIS 8 or 9. The micromammals indicate the predominance of the open spaces with abundant vegetation mainly of herbaceous and bushes but also with some areas with trees. The climate would be of Mediterranean type, similar to the actual or perhaps a little milder and more humid.

The chronostratigraphic framework of the Magdalenian in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula currently covers the period 21,440–21,040 cal BP (level 2 of the Cueva del Gato site at Epila, Province of Zaragoza) to 12,770–12,570 cal BP (level I of the La Pena de Estebanvela site, Ayllon, Province of Segovia). These dates embrace times of strong climatic oscillation, beginning with very rigorous environmental conditions (stage GS2) and ending with a temperate climate (Allerod); over this period, extreme events such as Heinrich event 1 occurred. However, little information is available that would allow the environments through which human groups moved during the Late Last Glacial of the Iberian interior to be characterised. The La Pena de Estebanvela site is something of an exception in that its archaeological features allow the reconstruction of the surrounding environment, and provide information on how natural resources may have been used. The faunal remains represented at this site reflect changes in palaeoecology over time. Taphonomic analysis of recovered macromammals and lagomorphs shows that these animals were brought to the site, butchered and consumed. The available data on seasonality fix the occupation of levels I–III from the spring to the autumn. Certain types of wood were collected for use as firewood. Other elements found in the record (personal ornaments, mobiliary art and raw materials) provide evidence that the people that occupied the site moved over a more extensive territory.

Esquilleu cave (Cantabria, northern Spain) presents 30 Mousterian archaeological layers covering virtually the complete MIS 3 both in chronology and environmental. A number of environmental analyses (faunal, pollen, charcoal) allow the study of the different strategies for the procurement and management of resources available near the site and indicate the Neanderthals’ wide adaptability to the changing environment typical of this period. This paper also discusses the possibility of using bones as fuel either as a palliative for a presumed lack of wood resources in the environment or as a mere pattern of human behaviour.

The genus Prolagus is very common in the Neogene and Quaternary of Europe, western Asia and northern Africa. However, the complexity of its systematics, mainly based on p3 characters that show great inter- and intraspecific variability, led to an under-utilization of Prolagus in biochronology and palaeogeography studies. A re-analysis of the species of Prolagus recorded in the Escobosa de Calatañazor karst fissure fillings (Duero Basin, northern Spain, MN7/8, late Middle Miocene) includes the introduction of new maxillary and mandibular morphological characters (position, shape and size of premolar and mandibular foramina) and new dental measurements (hypoflexus depth, distal hypercone length, and partial width of upper premolars; relative length of trigonid of lower molariform teeth) to be used for species discrimination within the genus Prolagus. The new morphological characters and measurements introduced in this paper allow for a more accurate taxonomic assignment of Prolagus species, thus improving the estimation of faunal palaeodiversity, detection of sympatric species and taphonomic mixing, and contributing to more reliable biochronological, palaeogeographical, and phylogenetic inferences based on Prolagus., Resumen: El género Prolagus es muy común en el Neógeno y Cuaternario de Europa, Asia occidental y el norte de África. Sin embargo, la complejidad de su sistemática, basada principalmente en los caracteres del p3 que muestran una gran variabilidad inter e intraespecífica, condujo a una infrautilización de Prolagus en biocronología y estudios de paleogeografía. Un nuevo análisis de las especies de Prolagus registradas en los rellenos kársticos de fisuras de Escobosa de Calatañazor (cuenca del Duero, norte de España, MN7 / 8, final del Mioceno Medio) incluye la introducción de nuevos caracteres morfológicos en el maxilar y la mandíbula (posición, forma y tamaño del premolar y foramen mandibular) y las nuevas mediciones dentales (profundidad del hypoflexo, longitud distal del hypercono, y anchura parcial de los premolares superiores; longitud relativa de trigónido de los dientes molariformes inferiores) que se utilizarán para la discriminación de especies dentro del género Prolagus. Los nuevos caracteres morfológicos y medidas introducidas en este trabajo permiten una asignación taxonómica más exacta de las especies de Prolagus, mejorando así la estimación de paleodiversidad faunística, detección de especies simpátricas y mezcla tafonómica, y contribuyen a unas inferencias más fiables biocronológicas, paleogeográficas y filogenéticas en Prolagus.

This paper presents a taphonomic analysis of the faunal assemblages from the 1993–1999 excavations at Ambrona (Spain), directed by Santonja and Pérez-González. The purpose of the new excavations was to achieve a better understanding of the stratigraphic sequence, general geology, sedimentary context and processes of accumulation of materials. Our objectives are to evaluate the opposing interpretations of the hominid subsistence activities at the site proposed by Freeman and Binford. The faunal and lithic remains are found in different sedimentary contexts: an alluvial fan, lacustrine muds, fluviatile clay–sands and channel deposits. Faunal remains in the lacustrine muds are often, but not always, in primary context. Remains of elephant and deer carcasses may be found in partial articulation or proximity and represent natural occurrences without any clear evidence of hominid intervention. In other contexts the faunal remains are occurrences of single anatomical elements either displaced by water or left isolated in situ. There are no carnivore marks; bones and stone artifacts show varying degrees of mechanical abrasion due to water transport. Limited evidence of human action on bones is provided by a few SEM verified cutmarks and some anthropic fractures. They document butchery of various animals, including elephants. We cannot prove hunting but we can definitely reject Binford’s idea of marginal scavenging of medium-size ungulates from carnivore kills. Ambrona is a complex mix of natural and human components, the remnant of a natural landscape regularly visited by hominids, who transported some artifacts from nonlocal raw material sources and had an organized approach to meat acquisition. However, strong evidence of elephant hunting is provided only by sites younger than Ambrona., Resumen: Este artículo presenta un análisis tafonómico de los conjuntos faunísticos de las excavaciones llevadas a cabo en Ambrona (España) de 1993-1999, dirigidas por Santonja y Pérez-González. El propósito de las nuevas excavaciones era lograr una mejor comprensión de la secuencia estratigráfica, geología general, el contexto sedimentario y procesos de la acumulación de los restos. Nuestros objetivos son evaluar las interpretaciones propuestas por Freeman y Binford sobre las actividades de subsistencia de homínidos en el yacimiento. Los restos faunísticos y líticos se encuentran en distintos contextos sedimentarios: facies de abanico aluvial, limos lacustres, arenas y arcillas fluviales y depósitos de canal. Los restos de fauna en los limos lacustres están a menudo, pero no siempre, en contexto primario. Los restos de carcasas de elefantes y ciervos, que pueden encontrarse parcialmente articulados o en proximidad, representan acumulaciones naturales en las que no existen evidencias consistentes de intervención humana. En otros casos, los restos esqueléticos de fauna son elementos individuales desplazados por el agua o que permanecen aislados in situ. No se aprecian marcas de carnívoros, pero tanto los huesos como los artefactos líticos muestran diversos grados de alteración mecánica producida por el transporte fluvial. La limitada evidencia de la acción humana sobre los huesos se fundamenta en la verificación de algunas marcas de corte mediante el uso del Microscopio de Barrido Electrónico (MBE) y varias fracturas de carácter antrópico. Estos datos ponen de manifiesto la existencia de actividades de despedazado sobre los restos óseos de distintos animales, entre los que se incluyen elefantes. No podemos confirmar la existencia de caza, pero podemos rechazar definitivamente la propuesta de Binford sobre el carroñeo marginal de ungulados de tamaño medio que habrían sido presa de carnívoros. Ambrona constituye una compleja mezcla de componentes naturales y antrópicos, la huella de un paisaje natural visitado habitualmente por homínidos que transportaban algunos artefactos líticos desde fuentes alóctonas de materia prima y que dispusieron de un plan organizado para la adquisición de carne. Sin embargo, las evidencias que confirman la existencia de actividades de caza de elefantes provienen exclusivamente de yacimientos más recientes que Ambrona.

RESUMEN: En este trabajo se dan a conocer dos nuevos yacimientos de la zona suroeste de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón y Leganés, que han proporcionado dos ricas asociaciones de micromamíferos de edades diferentes. La asociación de micromamíferos del yacimiento de Villaviciosa de Odón determinada en este trabajo está compuesta por los siguientes taxones: Lagomorpha: Lagopsis peñai; Erinaceomorpha: Galerix cf. exilis; Soricomorpha: Miosorex cf. grivensis; Rodentia: Atlantoxerus sp., Microdyromys sp., Armantomys tricristatus, Megacricetodon collongensis y Democricetodon sp. Por el estadio evolutivo de Megacricetodon collongensis esta asociación se incluiría en la biozona local E de Daams & Freudenthal (1988a) del final del Aragoniense Medio, correlacionable con el final de la unidad MN 5 de Mein (1975). La asociación del yacimiento de Leganés se compone de los siguientes taxones: Lagomorpha: Lagopsis verus; Erinaceomorpha: Galerix cf. exilis; Rodentia: Heteroxerus cf. rubricati, Armantomys sp., Megacricetodon collongensis-crusafonti y cf. Democricetodon sp. Por el estadio evolutivo de Megacricetodon collongensis-crusafonti se situaría en el Aragoniense Superior en la biozona local G1 de Daams et al. (1999 a y b) que se correlaciona con la unidad MN 6 de Mein (1975). Es el primer yacimiento que se conoce en Madrid de esta edad. Las asociaciones de micromamíferos de Villaviciosa de Odón y Leganés sugieren un medio fundamen¬talmente abierto, con predominio de la vegetación dura de tipo estepario, y un clima seco y relativamente cálido., This paper discloses two new sites in the southwestern area of Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón and Leganés, which have provided two rich micromammals associations of different ages. The micromammal association of the Villaviciosa de Odón site determined in this work is composed by the following taxa: Lagomorpha: Lagopsis peñai; Erinaceomorpha: Galerix cf. exilis; Soricomorpha: Miosorex cf. grivensis; Rodentia: Atlantoxerus sp., Microdyromys sp., Armantomys tricristatus, Megacricetodon collongensis and Democricetodon sp. This association, mainly by the evolutionary stage of Megacricetodon collongensis, corresponds to the E local biozone after Daams & Freudenthal (1988a) from the end of the Middle Aragonian which is correlated with the end of the MN 5 Unit of Mein (1975). The micromammal association of the Leganés site consists of the following taxa: Lagomorpha: Lagopsis verus; Erinaceomorpha: Galerix cf. exilis; Rodentia: Heteroxerus cf. rubricati, Armantomys sp., Megacricetodon collon-gensis-crusafonti and cf. Democricetodon sp. Mainly by the evolutionary stage of Megacricetodon collongensis-crusafonti this association corresponds to the G1 local biozone after Daams et al. (1999 a y b) which is correlated with the MN 6 Unit of Mein (1975). It is the only site known in Madrid of this age. Both micromammals associations suggest an open environment dominated by hard vegetation of steppe kind, and a dry and relatively warm climate.

Here we present a pluridisciplinary study of Cuesta de la Bajada site (Teruel, Spain). Our findings show that the site contains an early Middle Paleolithic assemblage similar to other European early Middle Paleolithic industries, allowing us to evaluate the coexistence of this industrial tradition with the Acheulean technocomplex in southwest Europe. The process of lithic production at Cuesta de la Bajada represents a technology focused on debitage, the application of technical concepts such as ramified production sequences, and the recycling of flakes via the resharpening of tools and exhausted cores. This site was formed around a pond not far from a river and contains remains of large macrofauna other than equids and cervids. Taphonomic analysis highlights the abundance of cut marks on bones, and supports the hypothesis of selective hunting by hominids. The numerical ages derived from the combination of ESR, OSL and AAR dating methods indicate that the archaeological site was very likely formed around the MIS 8-MIS 9. The appearance of Middle Paleolithic industries in Europe could represents the autochthonous development of a technocomplex distinctly different from the Acheulean, characterized by chaînes operatoires of debitage and a progressive increase of Levallois technology and retouched tools. These results suggest that there is a clear coexistence of assemblages with Acheulean and Middle Paleolithic industries during the last third of the Middle Pleistocene at least in the Iberian Peninsula

This paper presents the findings from four sites with proboscidean remains associated with Middle Palaeolithic stone tools from the Manzanares Valley Complex Terrace of Butarque (CTB), which has been dated to between the final Middle Pleistocene (MIS 6, 190e130 ka) and the early Late Pleistocene (MIS 5,130-74-71 ka). We review the direct and indirect evidence of proboscidean exploitation in the Middle Paleolithic sites of Europe, and provide information on Lower Paleolithic European sites with proboscidean remains and stone tools. Geological, chronological, bio-stratigraphic and climatic data of the CTB are provided, and the sites with proboscidean remains and Middle Palaeolithic stone tools are described in detail. Systematic exploitation of large mammals during the Middle Palaeolithic, and even their regular hunting, is widely accepted. However, the exploitation of proboscideans is not as evident in the archaeological record of this period. The exploitation of proboscideans cannot be considered as merely occasional before the Upper Palaeolithic, and although there is more evidence of the exploitation of these mega-herbivores during the Lower than during the Middle Palaeolithic, the discoveries from the Manzanares Valley state that, at least in this area, proboscideans continued to play an important role with regards to the exploitation of the environmental resources.

Résumé: Des fouilles récentes dans l'Éocene supérieur de Zambrana (Alava, Pays basque) ont livré des restes de vertébrés continentaux, les premiers découverts dans le bassin tertiaire de Miranda-Treviño. L'association fossile est composée de tortues (Chelonii indet.), crocodiliens (Diplocynodon sp.) et mammiferes, qui comprennent de possible insectivores (Lipotyphla indet.), carnivores (cf. Quercygale sp.), rongeurs (Theridomys aff. golpei, Elfomys aff. parvulus, Pseudosciurinae indet., Glamys priscus), artiodactyles (Xiphodontidae indet.) et périssodactyles (Paranchilophus sp., lagiolophus aff mazateronensis, Palaeotherium sp.). L'association de rongeurs et de périssodactyles suggere un age ludien (Priabonien) moyen-inférieur, correspondant a la biozone MP 18. La faune de mammiferes de Zambrana est comparable aux faunes endémiques de l'Éocene moyen-supérieur des bassins ibériques occidentaux et centraux. Les dép6ts fossiliferes sont des marnes et des calcaires a niveaux de charbon, d'origine lacustre. L'étude géologique de la région indique que le bassin tertiaire de Miranda-Treviño a été fortement influencé par l'activité tectonique régionale et que les premiers mouvements compressifs importants liés a la phase pyrénéenne de l'orogenese alpine ont eu lieu pendant l'Éocene inférieur., Recent field work in the Upper Eocene of Zambrana (Alava, Basque Country) has yielded continental vertebrate remains, the first discovered in the Tertiary Miranda-Treviño Basin. The fossil association consists of turtles (Chelonii indet.), crocodilians (Diplocynodon sp.) and mammals, including possible insectivores (Lipotyphla indet.), carnivores (cf. Quercygale sp.), rodents (Theridomys aff golpei, Elfomys aff. parvulus, Pseudosciurinae indet., Glamys priscus), artiodactyls (Xiphodontidae indet.) and perissodactyls (Paranchilophus sp., Plagiolophus aff mazateronensis, Palaeotherium sp.). The association of rodents and perissodactyls suggests an early middle Ludian (Priabonian) age, which corresponds to the biozone MP 18. The mammalian fauna of Zambrana is like the middle Upper Eocene endemic faunas from the western and central Iberian basins. The fossiliferous beds are lacustrine coal-bearing marls and limestones. The geological study of the area evidences that the Tertiary Miranda-Treviño. Basin was highly influenced by tectonic activity, and that the first compressive stresses related to the Pyrenean phase of the Alpine orogenesis took place during the early Eocene.

Les gisements archéologiques de Hat et Preresa sont situés respectivement dans les vallées des rivières Jarama et Manzanares, à environ 6 km l’un de l’autre et à 18 km au sud-est de Madrid. Ils correspondent à des dépôts de plaines d’inondation ayant conservé les restes d’activités ponctuelles de groupes de néanderthaliens notamment le dépeçage de carcasses de grands mammifères il y a environ 80 000 ans. Les assemblages de petits vertébrés récupérés lors des campagnes de fouilles de 2001 à Hat et de 2003 à 2005 à Preresa sont composés par des amphibiens (Pelobates cultripes, Pelodytes sp., Bufo bufo, Bufo calamita, Hyla sp. et Pelophylax perezi), des reptiles (Testudinoidea indet., Blanus sp., Timon lepidus, Psammodromus cf. algirus, Natrix maura, Coronella sp. et Vipera latastei) et des petits mammifères (Erinaceus europaeus, Crocidura russula, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Eliomys quercinus quercinus, Apodemus sp., Cricetulus (Allocricetus) bursae, Arvicola aff. sapidus, Microtus cabrerae, Microtus duodecimcostatus et Oryctolagus cuniculus). Ces deux gisements, d’âge plus ou moins similaire, ont permis de mettre en évidence à la fin du dernier interglaciaire (MIS 5a) et dans le Centre de la péninsule Ibérique l’existence d’un climat de type méditerranéen (quatre mois de sécheresse durant l’été et le début de l’automne) comparable, voire plus chaud que l’actuel avec des précipitations plus abondantes durant les mois d’hiver et de printemps, et d’une continentalité moins prononcée, comme conséquence d’une hausse des températures hivernales. Ce climat semble avoir été propice, à l’existence de zones boisées humides, au moins en bordure des fleuves et d’espaces steppiques ou de prairies sèches avec arbustes sur les plateaux environnants. The archeological sites of Hat and Preresa are located in the valleys of the rivers Jarama and Manzanares respectively, at nearly 6 km one from the other, and 18 km southeast of Madrid. They correspond to floodplain deposits that preserved the remains of the punctual activities of Neanderthal groups in particular the cutting up of large mammals (in particular Proboscidea in Preresa) approximately 80 000 years ago. The small vertebrate assemblages recovered during the excavation campaigns made in 2001 in Hat and from 2003 to 2005 in Preresa are constituted by amphibians (Pelobates cultripes, Pelodytes sp., Bufo bufo, Bufo calamita, Hyla sp. and Pelophylax perezi), reptiles (Testudinoidea indet., Blanus sp., Timon lepidus, Psammodromus cf. algirus, Natrix maura, Coronella sp. and Vipera latastei) and small mammals (Erinaceus europaeus, Crocidura russula, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Eliomys quercinus quercinus, Apodemus sp., Cricetulus (Allocricetus) bursae, Arvicola aff. sapidus, Microtus cabrerae, Microtus duodecimcostatus and Oryctolagus cuniculus). These two assemblages, with an age more or less similar, reveal at the end of the last interglacial (MIS 5a) in Central Spain a climate of Mediterranean type (four months of aridity during summer and the beginning of fall) identical, or warmer than current one with more abundant rainfalls during winter and spring, and a lesser continentality, linked with a certain increase of winter temperatures. Such climatic conditions seem to have been favorable to the existence of humid woodland areas, at least near the rivers, and of steppe areas or dry meadows with bushes on the surrounding plateaus.

The changes in the distribution of the small mammals associations of the Pleistocene of Spain are used here tomake an environmental interpretation from this age to the present. We have taken into account the paleoenvironmental significance of some micromammals (Rodentia, Lagomorpha, Insectivora and Chiroptera), whose living representatives live in restricted habitats, as well as their evolution, immigration and extinction. Our observations allow the following remarks. After the relative cooling that happened by the late Pliocene and at the beginning of the Pleistocene, Spain was subjected to a mild climate since the Middle Pleistocene to the present. Some relatively warmer phases probably ocurred in the Middle Pleistocene, as well as some cooler phases during the glaciations of the Upper Pleistocene, even if these were less intense than in the rest of Europe. Humidity was probably greater during the Late Pliocene and the Lower Pleistocene than in preceding ages in Southern Spain. The relatively warmer phases during the Middle Pleistocene could have also been more humid in all the Peninsula, probably with an inceease of the water courses and a greater extension of the vegetation cover. The milder phases during the Upper Pleistocene would also be more humid with more wooded areas, while the cooler phases were possibly drier. There are evidences of a tendency towards a drier climate since the Upper Pleistocene until the present. As a result, a progressive decrease in the diversity of the micromammals happened which still prevails nowadays mainly in the Mediterranean area of Spain.

RESUMEN: PRERESA (Getafe, Madrid) es un yacimiento del primer tercio del Pleistoceno Superior, final del MIS 5, del que se han excavado 255 m2, y donde se han recuperado 754 piezas líticas y abundantes restos de micro- y macrovertebrados. En este trabajo se aborda el estudio de los micromamíferos identificados en el yacimiento: Erinaceomorpha: Erinaceus europaeus; Soricomorpha: Crocidura russula; Chiroptera: Rhinolophus ferrumequinum; Rodentia: Eliomys quercinus quercinus, Apodemus sp., Cricetulus (Allocricetus) bursae, Arvicola aff. sapidus, Microtus cabrerae, Microtus duodecimcostatus; Lagomorpha: Oryctolagus cuniculus. Esta asociación faunística, fundamentalmente por la presencia de Microtus cabrerae, es del Pleistoceno Superior. El estadio evolutivo de Microtus cabrerae y Arvicola aff. sapidus indican la antigüedad de esta asociación dentro de la primera parte de dicho periodo, lo que es acorde con la fecha de 84±5,6 ka BP obtenida por OSL. Todos los taxones que se registran en PRERESA viven actualmente en la zona en la que se ubica el yacimiento, excepto Cricetulus (Allocricetus) bursae que se extinguió en la Península Ibérica al final del Pleistoceno Superior. Las observaciones realizadas sobre el material indican que la acumulación de restos de micromamíferos en el yacimiento es debida, en su mayor parte, a la acción de predadores, muy posiblemente a egagrópilas de aves rapaces. La asociación de micromamíferos de PRERESA indica unas condiciones de clima templado con cierta humedad y un desarrollo de la vegetación con algunas zonas boscosas y fundamentalmente áreas abiertas pero con vegetación arbustiva, herbácea, praderas secas y húmedas, y ribereña. En una comparación de los micromamíferos del yacimiento de PRERESA con los de los yacimientos del Pleistoceno Medio de Áridos 1 y Valdocarros, los datos indican que en los tramos bajos de los ríos Manzanares y Jarama hubo unas condiciones climáticas y paisajísticas similares en los momentos que representan estos yacimientos (Pleistoceno Medio avanzado y primer tercio del Pleistoceno Superior). Sin embargo, y al igual que sucede en la actualidad, estas condiciones fueron algo diferentes en el valle del Lozoya en la Sierra de Guadarrama durante el primer tercio del Pleistoceno Superior, según indica la asociación de micromamíferos de la Cueva del Camino (Pinilla del Valle, Madrid), que sugiere un clima relativamente más húmedo y un medio con una mayor variedad de biotopos. La asociación de micromamíferos del Pleistoceno Superior de PRERESA, en el tramo bajo del Manzanares, comparada con la de la Cueva del Camino que tiene una cronología similar, y con otras del Norte de Madrid del Pleistoceno Superior, pone de manifiesto según nuestras observaciones una diferenciación biogeográfica y paleoclimática ya durante este periodo entre unas y otras, de las que la zona limitante serían más o menos las estribaciones meridionales y centro-orientales del Sistema Central., PRERESA (Getafe, Madrid) is a site of the first third of the Late Pleistocene, at the end of MIS 5, of which 255 m2 have been excavated, and where 754 stone pieces and abundant remains of micro- and macrovertebrates have been recovered. This paper deals with the study of the following identified micromammals at the site: Erinaceomorpha: Erinaceus europaeus; Soricomorpha: Crocidura russula; Chiroptera: Rhinolophus ferrumequinum; Rodentia: Eliomys quercinus quercinus, Apodemus sp., Cricetulus (Allocricetus) bursae, Arvicola aff. sapidus, Microtus cabrerae, Microtus duodecimcostatus; Lagomorpha: Oryctolagus cuniculus. This faunal association, mainly due to the presence of Microtus cabrerae, belongs to the Late Pleistocene. The evolved stage of Microtus cabrerae and Arvicola aff. sapidus indicate the antiquity of this association within the first part of this period, which is consistent with the date of 84±5,6 ka BP obtained by OSL. All the taxa recorded in PRERESA are currently living in the area where the site is located, except Cricetulus (Allocricetus) bursae that became extinct in the Iberian Peninsula at the end of the Late Pleistocene. Observations on the material indicate that the accumulation of the small mammal remains could have been mainly caused by predators, most likely by pellets of birds of prey. The association of small mammals from PRERESA indicates temperate conditions with some moisture and vegetation development with some wooded areas and mainly open areas but mostly shrubby, herbaceous, wet and dry grasslands, and riparian vegetation. The comparison of the small mammals from PRERESA with those of the Middle Pleistocene sites from Áridos and Valdocarros, indicate a similarity of the climatic conditions and lansdcape in the low sections of the Manzanares and Jarama rivers in the moments that these sites represent (the advanced Middle Pleistocene and the first third of the Late Pleistocene). However, and as it is the case today, these conditions would be somewhat different in the Lozoya valley in the Sierra de Guadarrama during the first third of the Late Pleistocene, as the association of micromammals from Cueva del Camino (Pinilla del Valle) indicate, that suggests a relatively more humid climate and an environment with a greater variety of habitats. The association of small mammals from the Late Pleistocene site of PRERESA from the low section of the Manzanares valley, compared with that from Cueva del Camino that has a similar chronology, and with those of others sites of del Late Pleistocene from the North of Madrid, after our observations suggests a paleoclimate and biogeographic differentiation among those already during this period, which limiting area would be roughly the southern and eastern foothills of the Central System.

We present the study of rodents and insectivores from the 1995 season of excavation at the early Late Pleistocene site of Bois Roche (Charente, France). The site is a small cave with a low ceiling, used as a den by hyenas. It contains a large herbivore assemblage (mainly bovids and equids) with a smaller representation of medium-size taxa (cervids), many microvertebrates, abundant coprolites and deciduous hyena teeth, and a few lithic artifacts (Middle Paleolithic) introduced into the cave by gravity and slope wash. The rodent fauna consists of Eliomys quercinus cf. quercinus, Apodemus sp., Microtus gregalis, Microtus oeconomus, Arvicola terrestris and Dicrostonyx torquatus. Insectivores are represented by Neomys cf. fodiens. The most common species is M. gregalis which forms 93.7% of the total MNI. The micromammal fauna suggests an open landscape, with some vegetation mainly of the steppe or tundra type, with areas of water and more wet vegetation and some areas with trees. The micromammal association of Bois Roche is characteristic of a cold or very cold dry climate., Résumé: Nous présentons l’étude des rongeurs et insectivores du gisement du début du Pléistocène supérieur de Bois Roche (Charente, France) à partir du matériel provenant de la campagne de fouille de 1995. Le gisement est situé dans une petite grotte à plafond bas, utilisée par des hyènes comme repère. Il renferme un grand ensemble d’herbivores (bovidés et suidés principalement), avec une mineure représentation de mammifères de taille moyenne (cervidés), plusieurs microvertébrés, abondants coprolithes et dents de lait d’hyènes, et quelques artefacts lithiques (Paléolithique moyen) introduits dans la grotte par gravité et ruissellement. La faune de rongeurs est composée de Eliomys quercinus cf. quercinus, Apodemus sp., Microtus gregalis, Microtus oeconomus, Arvicola terrestris et Dicrostonyx torquatus. Les insectivores sont représentés par Neomys cf. fodiens. L’espèce plus abondante est M. gregalis qui constitue 93,7 % du NMI total. La faune des micromammifères suggère un paysage ouvert, avec végétation principalement de steppe ou toundra, aires avec étangs et végétation plus humide et quelques zones avec des arbres. L’association des petits mammifères de Bois Roche est caractéristique d’un climat sec et froid ou très froid., Resumen: Presentamos el estudio de los roedores e insectívoros del yacimiento del comienzo del Pleistoceno Superior de Bois Roche (Charente, Francia), procedentes de la campaña de excavación de 1995. El yacimiento está situado en una pequeña cueva de techo bajo, utilizada por las hienas como madriguera. Contiene gran abundancia de herbívoros (principalmente bóvidos y équidos) y una menor representación de mamíferos de talla media (cérvidos), muchos microvertebrados, abundantes coprolitos y dentición decidua de hienas, y algunos instrumentos líticos (Paleolítico Medio) introducidos en la cueva por gravedad y por el lavado de las pendientes. La fauna de roedores está formada por Eliomys quercinus cf. quercinus, Apodemus sp., Microtus gregalis, Microtus oeconomus, Arvicola terrestris y Dicrostonyx torquatus. Los insectívoros está representados por Neomys cf. fodiens. Microtus gregalis es la especie más abundante constituyendo el 93,7% del total de NMI. La fauna de micromamíferos sugiere un paisaje abierto con cierta vegetación esteparia o de tundra, con áreas de agua y vegetación más húmeda y algunas zonas arboladas. La asociación de micromamíferos de Bois Roche es característica de un clima seco y frío o muy frío.

The studies made since the middle of the last century by many authors about the Spanish micromammal faunas of many sites have given rise at present to a good knowledge of the fossil record of the Spanish Neogene. The former synthesis works on Neogene mammals made by Lopez et al. (1987) and Calvo et al. (1993), of the rodents by Sese (1988) and of the lagomorphs by Lopez (1989) shows the extraordinary fossil richness of the several Spanish geographical areas and basins (Ebro, Tajo, Calatayud-Teruel, Duero, Valles-Penedes, Levante, Beticas). In the present work it is made a review and update synthesis on the Spanish Neogene (Miocene and Pliocene) rodents (order Rodentia) and lagomorphs (order Lagomorpha), mainly of the peninsula where there are more findings, but also of some findings made in the islands. They have been analysed, mainly from the systematical and biostratigraphical point of view, the faunas of the Neogene sites that have characteristical taxa of their asigned age. The order of the presentation of the analysis is, at a first level, by the stages or mammal ages, giving their most important characteristics, and, at a second level, analysing the most characteristical features of the faunas of each biozone that belong to each stage. These stages are: in the Miocene, the Early Lower Miocene, Ramblian, Aragonian, Vallesian and Turolian, and, in the Pliocene, the Ruscinian (Alfambrian) and Villanian. Regarding the zones, for the Miocene we follow the local biozonation more used in Spain that comprises the zones named from X to Y and from A to M, correlating them with the MN zones of the Mediterranean Neogene biozonation (Mein, 1975) that is the most used in Europe; and in the Pliocene, we used the MN 14 to MN 17 zones. They have been summarized the dates made in many sites, zones and stages, mainly since the last decade. It is pointed out the biogeographical differentiation between the Ibero-Central and the Ibero-Levant provinces during the most part of the Miocene, and their homogeinity at the end of the Miocene and during the Pliocene with the southern France in the so called Ibero-Occitanian province. It has been also indicated the main paleoenvironmental changes inferred from the micromammal faunal changes, mainly those that have been related with global changes.

In this work we study the micromammal associations of five new sites from the basin of Calatayud: Viluena, Torralba de Ribota 8, Monton, Armantes 14 and Belmonte. In the first four sites we have recognised the evolved species lineage of Megacricetodon primitivus-collongensis-crusafonti of the Middle Miocene that have allowed us to place them biostratigraphically with accuracy. The oldest site is Viluena, with Megacricetodon primitivus which is a characteristic species of the C y D1 zones corresponding respectively to the Lower and Middle Aragonian. The association of Megacriceton primitivus- collongensis and Fahlbuschia koenigswaldi in Torralba de Ribota 8 is characteristic of the D zone of the Middle Aragonian. In Monton we found the transitional taxon of Megacricetodon collongensis-crusafonti which is characteristic of the F and Gl zones of the Upper Aragonian. In Armantes 14 there is the species Megacricetodon crusafonti that is characteristic of the G2 zone of the Upper Aragonian. Finally in the Belmonte site, the presence of the muridae Progonomys hispanicus, indicates its age of the Upper Vallesian, in the zone J that is characterized by that species. From a paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic point of view, the presence in the sites of Viluena, Torralba de Ribota 8 and Monton of the terrestrial squirrel of the genus Heteroxerus, and some gliridae of the genus Microdyromys which are not related with a wet climate, and the capacity of this last genus and also of the cricetid genus Fahlbuschia to endure high temperatures, suggest an open country environment and a climate relatively dry and warm during the most part of the Lower and Middle Aragonian and the lower part of the Upper Aragonian as was pointed out in other areas (Daams et al., 1988; Daams & van der Meulen, 1984; van der Meulen & Daams, 1992). In the Upper Aragonian faunal association of Armantes 14, it appears a gliridae of the genus Muscardinus that is considered characteristic of a humid climate, and there are no terrestrial squirrels. This is in agreement with the suggestion made by Daams et al. (op.cit.) that this age was relatively wetter than the former one. There is a fauna1 micromammal change between the Middle and the Upper Miocene, evident in the fauna1 association of the Upper Vallesian site of Belmonte in which there are no anyone of the cricetidae that were characteristic of the Middle Miocene but it appears the first muridae represented by the genus Progonomys. This has been interpreted as a climatic change towards relatively drier conditions, that went on during al1 the Upper Miocene, and also relatively colder, according to Daams et al. (op. cit.).

La Cuenca terciaria de Calatayud-Montalban consta de dos subcuencas diferentes separadas por el umbral de Daroca (Cuenca de Calatayud en el sector septentrional y Cuenca de Montalban en el sector meridional). Estas cuencas presentan una evolucion sedimentaria muy similar de los sistemas lacustres neogenos evaporiticos y carbonaticos, que generalmente ocupan los sectores centrales de ambas depresiones. En la Cuenca de Calatayud, se reconocen tradicionalmente en el Neogeno tres unidades sedimentarias mayores denominadas Unidad Inferior, Intermedia y Superior separadas por dos rupturas sedimentarias principales. Las dos primeras tienen caracter evaporitico, mientras que la ultima tiene un caracter fluviolacustre. En los sectores centrales de la Cuenca de Montalban, el sondeo Barrachina-l y las secciones estratigraficas complementarias han permitido apreciar una evolucion sedimentaria muy similar para las unidades neogenas, con facies evaporiticas y carbonaticas muy parecidas, aunque con una cronoestratigrafia diferente y la ausencia del registro sedimentario del Mioceno medio a Plioceno. En este trabajo tambien se describe por vez primera la presencia de un nivel volcanoclastico intercalado entre las facies evaporiticas del Mioceno inferior de la Cuenca de Montalban. Las asociaciones minerales identificadas en los depositos lacustres del Mioceno inferiormedio de ambos sectores de la cuenca, muestran una secuencia que evoluciona desde facies lacustres evaporiticas de alto grado de hipersalinidad, hacia facies lacustres evaporiticas de baja-moderada salinidad. Solamente, el registro sedimentario de la Cuenca de Calatayud permite asegurar que esta evolucion sedimentaria se completa con la presencia de facies carbonaticas fluviolacustres caracteristicas de aguas dulces en el Mioceno superior. Esta secuencia de precipitacion salina responde a un cambio progresivo en la hidroquimica de los sistemas lacustres relacionado con un cambio gradual de las condiciones climaticas que comenzaria en el Rambliense y se extenderia, al menos, durante todo el Mioceno medio. Las diferencias cronoestratigraficas entre los dos sectores de la misma depresion deben estar relacionados con los diferentes condicionantes tectonicos y/o geomorfologicos a los que se han visto sometidas ambas cuencas durante el Mioceno. [ABSTRACT] The Tertiary Calatayud-Montalban Basin consists of two distinct sub-basins separated by the Daroca High (Calatayud Basin in the northern sector and Montalban Basin in the southern sector). These basins present a quite similar sedimentary evolution of the Neogene evaporitic and carbonatic lacustrine systems, that generally occupy central locations in both basins. Three main sedimentary units (Lower, Intermediate and Upper units) divided by two main sedimentary breaks are traditionally described in the Calatayud Basin. The Lower and Intermediate units have evaporitic sedimentation, whilst the Upper Unit is tipically freshwater fluviolacustrine sedimentation. In the central areas of the Montalban basin, the Barrachina-l drill hole and complementary stratigraphic sections showed a very similar sedimentary evolution of the Neogene units, with similar evaporitic and carbonatic facies, but different chronostratigraphy. The Upper MiocenePliocene sedimentary record of the Montalban Basin is absent. In addition, this work presents the first occurrence of a volcanoclastic layer interbedded in the Lower Miocene evaporitic facies of the Montalban Basin. The identified mineral assemblages of the lacustrine deposits of both sectors of the basin, show an evolutionary sequence during the Lower-Middle Miocene from hypersaline to lower moderated salinity lacustrine facies. This evolutionary trend is only complete in the sedimentary record of the Calatayud Basin, where freshwater carbonatic fluviolacustrine facies are described in the Upper Miocene. This precipitation sequence is the result of a progressive hydrochemical change of the lacustrine systems related to a climatic change from the Ramblian to the Middle Miocene. Differences in the chronostratigraphy of both basins should be related to distinct tectonic scenarios and/or geomorphologic features during the Miocene.

We discovered five new sites with microvertebrates in the western sector of the Madrid Basin, the first found in the area of Talavera de la Reina, that are from the bottom to the top: Aritosa, Cantera de Talavera 1, Cantera de Talavera, Cerro Negro and La Cueva. Its Upper Oligocene age allows to date the lower arcosic unit (MI), three section, of Martin Escorza (1974) in which they appear. In some of these sites we have determined the evolution line: Zssiodoromys paufiensis - Zssiodorornys quercyi that allows us to corroborate its tendendy towards hypsodonty and also to place biostratigraphically with accuracy the sites, respectively, between the MP 26 and MP 27 units, after Schmidt-Kittler (1987) (Cantera de Talavera 1 and Cantera de Talavera) and in the MP 27 unit (Cerro Negro). Moreover, in some of these fauna1 associations we have found another Theridomyidae which belongs to the genera Archaeomys, an Sciuridae, some Cricetidae, one at least belonging to the species Eucricetodon dubius, two species of Eomyidae: Eomys cf. major and Eomys zitteli, (in which we can estimate its tendency towards the increasing size of its successive populations) and an Artyodactyla, Caenotherium sp., of great size. The composition of these fauna1 associations, in which the Theridomyidae are predominant, suggests relatively arid climatic conditions for that age in the area. Furthermore, the presence of two highly hypsodont taxa of Theridomyidae, together with some Cricetidae, and the lack of Gliridae, suggests an open environment

While many halokinetic models consider that a thick overburden is necessary before diapirism develops, other studies show that salt might begin to move soon after deposition in response to different factors (e.g. regional extension). We describe two continental Neogene basins in central Spain, characterized by three Miocene sedimentary untis, where unusually early initiation of evaporate mounds or “incipient pillows” occurs, with no overburden on top o them. The arguments suggesting the early bulging of the evaporates of the Lower Unit, forming a palaeorelief before and during the deposition of the Intermediate Unit, rely on certain characteristies of the palaeokarsts developed on the roof of the Lower Unit, as well as in the nature, disposition, thickness, and synsedimentary processes of the Intermediate Unit. Folds, faults, tension gashes, and collapse structures develop within the evaporitic mounds, and these deformation features might be related to their uplift history. The agent of initiation suggested in this paper for the evaporitic mounds “hydration diapirism”, or a volume increase related to the hydration of anhydrite to gypsum has not been previously recognized in the literature. A series of sedimentological and palaeontological arguments further suggest that this chemical reaction was triggered by a climatic change at the boundary between the Lower and the Intermediate Units.

RESUMEN: Se realiza el estudio de los micromamíferos del yacimiento de Valdocarros, que se localiza en la unidad de Arganda II de la Terraza Compleja de Arganda, en el valle del Jarama (Madrid), y del yacimiento de HAT, que está en la unidad de Arganda IV. Las asociaciones de micromamíferos determinadas en este trabajo en dichos yacimientos son las siguientes: en Valdocarros: erinaceomorfos: Erinaceus europaeus; soricomorfos: Crocidura aff. russula; roedores: Eliomys quercinus, Castor fiber, Apodemus sp., Cricetulus (Allocricetus) bursae, Arvicola aff. sapidus y Microtus brecciensis; y lagomorfos: Oryctolagus cuniculus; y en HAT: soricomorfos: Soricidae indet.; roedores: Eliomys quercinus, Apodemus sp., Arvicola aff. sapidus y Microtus cf. cabrerae; y lagomorfos: cf. Oryctolagus sp. La asociación del yacimiento de Valdocarros, por su composición y por el estadio evolutivo de Microtus brecciensis, se sitúa en el Pleistoceno Medio avanzado pero no final. La presencia de Microtus cf. cabrerae en el yacimiento de HAT hace que se adscriba al Pleistoceno Superior. Ambas asociaciones indican unas condiciones paleoambientales de clima templado y un buen desarrollo de la cobertura vegetal con zonas boscosas y zonas abiertas con vegetación arbustiva, ribereña y praderas. ABSTRACT: We study the micromammals from the sites of Valdocarros and HAT, located in the lithostratigraphic unit of Arganda II and IV respectively, within the Arganda Complex Terrace, in the Jarama Valley (Madrid, Spain). The micromammal associations of these sites consist of the following taxa: in Valdocarros: Erinaceomorpha: Erinaceus europaeus; Soricomorpha: Crocidura aff. russula; Rodentia: Eliomys quercinus, Castor fiber, Apodemus sp., Cricetulus (Allocricetus) bursae, Arvicola aff. sapidus and Microtus brecciensis; and Lagomorpha: Oryctolagus cuniculus; and in HAT: Soricomorpha: Soricidae indet.; Rodentia: Eliomys quercinus, Apodemus sp., Arvicola aff. sapidus and Microtus cf. cabrerae; and Lagomorpha: cf. Oryctolagus sp. The micromammal assemblage of the Valdocarros site can be placed in the advanced Middle Pleistocene, but not in its end, because of the faunal association and the evolved state of Microtus brecciensis. However, in HAT, the presence of Microtus cf. cabrerae suggests that this site belongs to the Late Pleistocene. Both micromammal assemblages indicate a temperate climate and a well developed vegetation cover, consisting of some forest and also open areas, with shrub-like vegetation and also meadow and riverside vegetation.

The Neogene succession cropping out in Mesa de Ocana (southern Madrid Basin) contains a variety of deposits that belong to the so-called Miocene Lower, Intermediate and Upper Units. In this area, the Miocene Upper Unit is formed of terrigenous deposits that grade both laterally and in vertical to palustrine and/or shallow lacustrine carbonate facies. Intercalated with the latter deposits, a large accumulation of fossil micromammal remains has been recognized (Canteras de Iberia mammal site). This site has yielded a fossil mammal association of late Turolian age (MN 13 unit) indicative of relatively warm and arid paleoclimatic conditions. The Canteras de Iberia mammal site constitutes the first occurrence of fossil mammals of Turolian age within the Neogene sedimentary record of the Madrid Basin. This occurrence allows to precise the chronostratigraphy of the Miocene Upper Unit of the basin.

The faunal analysis of the mammalian association retrieved in the mousterian cave-entrance site of Cueva Millan (Burgos) uncovers a rather varied assemblage of different cultural and bioecological connotations. On one side, the big-mammal fauna, by far the biggest fraction of the sample, seems to be the likely product of human hunting. As such, most bones are literally smashed and extremely eroded. This, of course, renders identification and interpretation more dificulto The small-mammal assemblage, looks more like the product of a primary accumulation and reflects a late Pleistocene fauna. The whole fauna indicates a rather temperate event with forest and open land criss-corssed by water courses. Particulary interesting is the presence of the beaver, not only a good paleoecological indicator but also arare finding on the Iberian Peninsula.

The quantitative and qualitative composition, and the general diversity of the micro­ mammalian faunas (Rodentia, Lagomorpha, Insectivora and Chiroptera) from 16 sedimen­ tary fluvial-lacustrine sites from the Guadix-Baza basin, of ages extending from the Late Miocene until the Middle Pleistocene, is analised. The paleoecological and paleoclimatic interpretation of the data obtained in this analysis is the following: The high quantitative and qualitative change, and the relative decrease of the diversity that can be observed in the micromammal faunas from Granada at the beginning of the Villafranchian, seems to be related with an increase of the relative humidity and climatic cooling as regards to the Ruscinian. The relative increase of the diversity in the Middle Pleistocene, indicates a re­ lative more temperate climate than that of the Lower Pleistocene.

Five new micrommamal localities have been recently found in Miocene successions of the north-eastern part of the Madrid Basin (prov. of Guadalajara). These mammal sites provide new data about the age of the Tertiary sequences in the area. The locality of Gargoles de Abajo only contains Caenotherium which ranges Oligocene to middle Aragonian; lower to middle Aragonian age is suggested for this locality in view of its stratigraphic position. The locality of Pajares has yielded a micromammal fauna that is clearly indicative of the Middle Aragonian. The locality of Lupiana shows a micromammal association characteristic of the upper Aragonian. The localities of Ledanca and Cendejas de la Torre 2 contain micromammal faunes that are attributable to the lower Vallesian.

The Atapuerca railway Trench and Ibeas sites near Burgos, Spain, are cave fillings that include a series of deposits, ranging from below the Matuyama/Bruhnes reversal up to the end of Middle Pleistocene. The lowest fossil-bearing bed in the Trench contains an assemblage of large and small Mammals including Mimomys savini, Pitymys gregaloides, Pliomys episcopalis, Crocuta crocuta, Dama sp, and Megacerini; the uppermost assemblage includes Canis lupus, Lynx spelaea, Panthera (Leo) fossilis, Felis sylvestris, Equus caballus steinheimensis, E. c. germanicus, Pitymys subterraneus. Microtus arvalis agrestis, Pliomys lenki, and also Panthera toscana, Dicerorhinus hemitoecbus, Bison schoetensacki, which are equally present in the lowest level. The biostratigraphic correlation and dates of the sites are briefly discussed, as are the paleoclimatic interpretation of the Trench sequences. Stone artifacts are found in several layers; the earliest occurrences correspond to the upper beds containing Mimomys savini. A set of preserved human occupation floors has been excavated in the top fossil-bearing beds. The stone-tool assemblages of the upper levels are of upper-medial Acheulean to Charentian tradition. The rich bone breccia SH, in the Cueva Mayor-Cueva del Silo, Ibeas de Juarros, is a derived deposit, due to a mud flow that dispersed and carried the skeletons of many carnivores and humans. The taxa represented are, Ursus deningeri (largely dominant), Panthera (Leo) fossilis, Vulpes vulpes, Homo sapiens var. Several traits of both mandibular and cranial remains are summarized. Preliminary attempts at dating suggest that the Ibeas fossil man, is older than the Last Interglacial, or Oxygen-isotope stage 5., RESUMEN: La Trinchera del ferrocarril de Atapuerca y yacimientos de Ibeas cerca de Burgos, España, son rellenos de cuevas que incluyen una serie de depósitos, que datan desde por debajo de la inversión Matuyama/Bruhnes hasta el final del Pleistoceno Medio. El nivel fosilífero de la Trinchera contiene un conjunto de grandes y pequeños Mamíferos incluyendo Mimomys savini, Pitymys gregaloides, Pliomys episcopalis, Crocuta Crocuta, Dama sp. y Megacerini; el conjunto más superior incluye Canis lupus, Lynx spelaea, Panthera (Leo) fossilis, Felis sylvestris, Equus caballus steinheimensis, E. c. germanicus, Pitymys subterraneus, Microtus arvalis agrestis, Pliomys lenki y también Panthera toscana, Dicerorhinus hemitoechus, Bison schoetensacki, que están igualmente presentes en el nivel más inferior. La correlación bioestratigráfica y las edades de los yacimientos se discuten brevemente, al igual que la interpretación paleoclimática de las secuencias de Trinchera. Los artefactos de piedra se encuentran en varios niveles, las primeras apariciones corresponden a los niveles superiores que contienen Mimomys savini. Se ha excavado un conjunto de suelos que preservan ocupación humana en la parte superior de los niveles fosilíferos. Los conjuntos de herramientas de piedra de los niveles superiores son del Achelense superior-medio a la tradición Charentiense. La rica brecha fosilífera SH, en la Cueva Mayor-Cueva del Silo, Ibeas de Juarros, es un depósito derivado, debido a un flujo de lodo que dispersó y transportó los esqueletos de muchos carnívoros y humanos. Los taxones representados son, Ursus deningeri (muy predominante), Panthera (Leo) fossilis, Vulpes vulpes, Homo sapiens var. Se resumen los rasgos de los restos mandibulares y craneales. Los intentos preliminares de datación sugieren que el hombre fósil de Ibeas, es más antiguo que el último Interglacial, o estadio de oxígeno isotópico 5.

The new site of Gorafe-A, placed in the Occidental sector of the Guadix-Baza depression, has provided the following fauna of micromammals: Stephanomys aff. medius, Apodemus goraiensis nov. sp., Paraethomys cf, meini, Occitanonomys cf. brailloni, Cricetus barrieri, Ruscinomys lasallei, Trilophomys vandeweerdi and Prolagus cf. michauxi. This faunal association can be correlated with Iberian Península faunas from Orrios and Gorafe 1, that allows to date the sediments in which the fauna is founded (basal part of the "Group of Huélago" unity) in the early Pliocene.El nuevo yacimiento de Gorafe-A, situado en el sector occidental de la depresión de Guadix-Baza, ha proporcionado la siguiente fauna de micromamíferos: Stephanomys aff. medius, Apodemus gorafensis nov. sp., Paraethomys cf. meini, Occitanonomys cf. brailloni, Cricetus barrieri, Ruscinomys lasallei, Trilophomys vandeweerdi y Prolagus cf. michauxi, Esta asociación faunística se correlaciona con las faunas de la Península Ibérica de Orrios y Gorafe 1, lo que permite datar los sedimentos en los que se encuentra la fauna (parte basal de la unidad "Grupo de Huélago") en el Plioceno inferior.

A new interpretation of the philogeny of the arvicolids Mimomys, Arvicola and Allophaiomys is proposed in this paper as a result of the comparison between several faunas of the Pliocene and lower and middle Pleistocene of the Iberian Península. The morphologic study of the abundant populations of Mimomys of the Pliocene bed from Moreda, has made it possible to establish, for each species, four divisions according to the stages of wear of the first lower molar. The evolution of Mimomys is closely related to the qualitative and quantitative variations of those stages of wear (from the most primitive to the most progressive ones) in the course of the time and for each different populations of Mimomys, which leads us to propose the following scheme of the evolution of the genus: During the Pliocene, two evolutionary lines of Mimomys are present since the appearance of the genus in the Iberian Peninsula: one of small size, in which the acquisition of cement in the molars is progressive, That one is represented by the following evolutionary stages: M. stehlini in the Ruscinian and M. pliocaenicus-M, medasensis in the upper Pliocene. the other line, of big size, is represented by M. cappettai and the cement in the molars exists already in the niore primitive populations. At the end of the Pliocene appears M. reidi of small size, By its similar morphology, the latter species is very probably the ancestor of the bigger M. savini that belongs to the lower and middle Pleistocene. On the other hand, the morphologic identity and the biometric proximity of Allophaiomys chalinei to the populationsof small size of Arvicola (A. mosbachensis), leads us to propose the evolutionary line: Arvicola deucalion-Arvicola chalinei-Arvicola mosbachensis. Therefore, Mimomys is an independent and coetaneus genus of Arvicola that disappeared in the upper Pleistocene. Finally, Allophaiomys pliocaenicus gives rise to Microtus and Pitymys by a cladogenetic process of diversification.En el presente trabajo se propone una nueva interpretación de la filogenia de los arvicólidos Mimomys, Arvicola y Allophaiomys como resultado de la comparación de diversas faunas del Plioceno y Pleistoceno inferior y medio de la Península Ibérica. El estudio morfológico de las abundantes poblaciones de Mimomys del yacimiento Plioceno de Moreda, ha permitido, para cada especie, su división en cuatro estadios de desgaste! del primer molar inferior. La evolución de Mimomys está estrechamente relacionada con la variación cualitativa y cuantitativa de dichos estadios de desgaste (de los más primitivos a los más progresivos) a lo largo del tiempo en el seno de las diferentes poblaciones de Mimomys , lo cual nos lleva a proponer el siguiente esquema. de la evolución del género: Durante el Plioceno, dos líneas evolutivas de Mimomys están presentes desde la aparición del género en la Península Ibérica: una de pequeña talla en la que la adquisición de cemento en los molares es progresiva y que está representada por los estadios evolutivos: M. stehlini en el Rusciniense y M. pliocaenicus - M. medasensis en el Plioceno superior. Y otra línea de gran talla representada por M. cappettai en la que el cemento en, los molares existe ya en las poblaciones más primitivas. Al final del Plioceno aparece M. reidi, de pequeña talla, que, por su semejanza morfológica, es muy probablemente el antecesor de M. savini, de mayor talla, del Pleistoceno inferior y medio. Por otra parte, la identidad morfológica y la proximidad biométrica de Allophaiomys deucalion y Allophalomys chalinei con las poblaciones de pequeña talla de Arvicola del Pleistoceno medio (Arvicola mosbachensis), nos llevan a proponer la línea evolutiva: Arvicola deucalion-Arvicola chatinei-Arvicola mosbachensis. Así pues, Mimomys es un género independiente y coetáneo de Arvicola que se extingue durante el Pleistoceno superior. Finalmente, Allophalomys pliocaenicus dará lugar por un proceso cladogenético de diversificación a Microtus y Pitymys.

y puede situarse en la unidad MN17. PALABRAS CLAVE: Yacimiento kárstico; Micromamíferos; Plioceno terminal; Villafranquiense medio. AB8TRACT The fauna of micromammals from the new bed of Casablanca B (Prov. of Castellón) is described. This fauna is the following: Crocidura sp., Eliomys aff. intermedius, Mimomys cappettai, Stephanomys balcellsi, Castillomys crusafonti ssp., Apodemus jeanteti and Prolagus cf. calpensis. The age of this faunal association is the end of the P1iocene (Middle Villafranchien). It can be placed in the MN17 unity.Se describe la fauna de micromamíferos del nuevo yacimiento kárstico de Casablanca B (prov. de Castellón) que es la siguiente: Crocidura sp., Eliomys aff, intermedius, Mimomys cappettai, Stephanomys balcellsi, Castillomys crusafonti ssp, Apodemus jeanteti y Prolagus cf, calpensis. La edad de esta asociación faunística es el Plioceno terminal (Villafranquiense medio) y puede situarse en la unidad MN17.

RESUMEN: Se describen en este trabajo los quirópteros del yacimiento kárstico del Aragoniense superior de Escobosa de Calatañazor (prov. de Soria, España). La fauna de quirópteros es la siguiente: Megaderma gaillardi, Rhinolophus grivensis, Rhinolophus delphinensis y un quiróptero, familia indeterminada, distinto de las especies mencionadas. Esta fauna, característica de yacimiento kárstico, permite su comparación con las de otros yacimientos del Mioceno y Plioceno de Europa occidental y norte de África., The Chiroptera from Escobosa de Calatañazor (Soria, Spain), an Upper Aragonian karstic site, are described in this report. The faunal list of Chiroptera is as follows: Megaderma gaillardi, Rhinolophus grivensis, Rhinolophus delphinensis and one chiropter, indeteminate family, different to the mentioned species. This fauna is typical of karstic sites and allows comparing it with those of other sites of the Miocene and Pliocene of west Europe and North Africa.

RESUMEN: El nuevo yacimiento kárstico de Casablanca I (prov. de Castellón), ha proporcionado la siguiente fauna de micromamíferos: Eliomys sp., Mimomys medasensis, Stephanomys balcellsi, Castillomys crusafonti ssp., cf. Apodemus sp. y Prolagus cf. calpensis. Esta asociación faunística se sitúa en el Plioceno terminal (Villafranquiense medio), en la unidad MN 17., The new karstic bed of Casablanca I (prov. of Castellón), has furnished the following fauna of micromammals: Eliomys sp., Mimomys medasensis, Stephanomys balcellsi, Castillomys crusafonti ssp., cf, Apodemus sp. y Prolagus cf. calpensis. This faunal association can be placed at the end of the Pliocene (Middle Villafranchien) in the MN 17 unity.

RESUMEN: Se describe la fauna do micromamíferos (roedores y lagomorfos] del yacimiento del Mioceno medio de Tarazona de Aragón, situado en el borde sur de la Depresión del Ebro. La asociación faunistica determinada es la siguiente: Heteroxerus rubricati, Heteroxerus sp., Armantomys aragonensis, Pseudodryomys ibericus, Microdyromys koenigswaldi, Megacricetodon collongensis, Fahlbuschia koenigswaldi, Fahlbuschia sp. y Lagopsis peñai. Esta fauna es similar a las del Aragoniense medio de la cuenca de Calatayud-Daroca que se incluyen en la zona D de la biozonación de Daams y Freudenthal (1981) y a las de la cuenca del Tajo de dicha edad., The fauna of micromammals (rodents and lagomorphs) from the Middle Miocene bed of Tarazona de Aragon, placed in the Ebro Depression, is described in this paper. The faunal association determined is the following: Heteroxerus rubricati, Heteroxerus sp., Armantomys aragonensis, Pseudodryomvs ibericus, Microdyromys koenigswaldi, Megacricetodon collongensis, Fahlbuschia koenigswaldi, Fahlbuschia sp. and Lagopsis peñai. This fauna is similar to those of me Middle Aragonian from the Calatayud-Daroca Basin which are included in the zone D of the biozonation of Daams & Freudenthal (1981); it is also similar to the faunas of the Tajo Basin of the same age.

RESUMEN: La fauna de micromamíferos objeto de este trabajo procede de las campañas de excavación realizadas en los años 1980 a 1983 en el yacimiento de ocupación Achelense de Ambrona y es la siguiente: Crocidura sp., Microtus brecciensis, Arvicola aff. sapidus, Apodemus aff. sylvaticus y Oryctolagus sp. Esta asociación es característica del Pleistoceno medio; por la talla grande de Arvicola y el estadio evolutivo primitivo de Microtus brecciensis parece corresponder a las últimas fases del Bihariense (Vertesszöllös/Uppony), o bien al comienzo del Oldenburgiense. La fauna corresponde a un clima templado., The fauna of micromammals studied in this report comes from the excavations campaigns during the years 1980 to 1983 in the Acheulean occupation site of Ambrona. The fauna is the following: Crocidura sp., Mícrotus brecciensis, Arvicola aff. sapidus, Apodemus aff. sylvaticus and Oryctolagus sp. This association is characteristic of the Middle Pleistocene; because of the big size of Arvicola and the primitive evolutive state of Microtus brecciensis this fauna seems to correspond lo the last phases of the Biharian (Verstesszöllös/Uppony) or to the beginning of the Oldenburgian. The fauna is proper to a temperate climate.