Taphonomic histories of Quaternary fossil accumulations preserved in Brazilian cave deposits

Abstract

The taphonomic histories of five cave deposits in Brazil were interpreted, focusing on the accumulation and taphonomic modes. These caves, Complexo Suíço, F3, Toca das Onças, Lapa dos Peixes and Gruna das Três Cobras, show evidence of remains being accumulated through entrapping, sheltering, and water transportation. Cluster Analysis revealed a predominance of irregular breaks and low stages of weathering as the primary taphonomic mode, along with lack of corrosion and abrasion. Factor Analysis also indicated that incrustation played a major role in distinguishing between the deposits. The remains in F3, Toca das Onças, Lapa dos Peixes, and Gruna das Três Cobras caves experienced similar preservation conditions, including fragmentation from reworking, block collapses, exposure to acidified rainwater, incrustation and abrasion from water-borne sediments, and corrosion due to bat guano and acidified water.