Article
Environmental Sciences
Vicente Bayarri, Alfredo Prada, Francisco Garcia, Lucia M. Diaz-Gonzalez, Carmen De Las Heras, Elena Castillo, Pilar Fatas
Summary: Rock art, made with mineral and organic substances, provides evidence of our ancient past. While it is fragile, measures must be taken to preserve it as a valuable cultural heritage. Remote-sensing technologies and GIS can help generate detailed documentation of caves and their environment, assisting in the research and conservation of cave art.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Vicente Bayarri, Alfredo Prada, Francisco Garcia
Summary: By integrating geomatics remote sensing technologies, this study provides a comprehensive 3D mapping of the Altamira Cave in Spain, including cave interior and exterior topography as well as nearby discontinuities and karst features. The use of ground penetrating radar confirms the fluid exchange between the cave's interior and exterior, highlighting its significance for site conservation.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Fernando Gazquez, Luis Quindos, Daniel Rabago, Ismael Fuente, Santiago Celaya, Carlos Sainz
Summary: This study investigates the isotopic compositions of condensation water in Altamira Cave and finds that condensation water in the outer cave sectors show higher isotopic values during the cave ventilation period, while condensation water in the inner cave sectors have similar isotopic values with infiltration water and insignificant seasonal variability. These results are important for the management of Altamira Cave and for future investigations on condensation mechanisms in cavities elsewhere.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Adam Brumm, Adhi Agus Oktaviana, Basran Burhan, Budianto Hakim, Rustan Lebe, Jian-xin Zhao, Priyatno Hadi Sulistyarto, Marlon Ririmasse, Shinatria Adhityatama, Iwan Sumantri, Maxime Aubert
Summary: Indonesia is home to some of the oldest surviving cave art, dating back at least 43,900 years. Recent discoveries in the same region revealed even older figurative cave paintings of Sulawesi warty pigs, with the oldest dating back to 45.5 ka. These findings suggest Indonesia's significant role in the history of rock art.
Article
Microbiology
Lise Alonso, Thomas Pommier, Danis Abrouk, Mylene Hugoni, Van Tran Van, Guillaume Minard, Claire Valiente Moro, Yvan Moenne-Loccoz
Summary: The dark zones in Lascaux Cave have distinct microbial communities compared to the black stains, although they share some similarities. There is a possibility that insects play a role in promoting both types of microbial alterations on the cave walls.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
M. Saez, S. Mangiarotti, S. Cuezva, A. Fernandez-Cortes, B. Molero, S. Sanchez-Moral, D. Benavente
Summary: This paper aims to numerically model the dynamics of CO2 and Rn-222 in cave atmospheres, particularly in the Cave of Altamira, Spain, using the global modeling technique. The study reveals that these dynamics can be approximated by low-dimensional, deterministic systems, with potential chaotic behavior, leading to significant methodological implications for future research.
THEORETICAL AND APPLIED CLIMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Diego Garate, Olivia Rivero, Joseba Rios-Garaizar, Ma Angeles Medina-Alcaide, Martin Arriolabengoa, Inaki Intxaurbe, Juan F. Ruiz-Lopez, Ana Belen Marin-Arroyo, Juan Rofes, Paula Garcia Bustos, Antonio Torres, Sergio Salazar
Summary: The Atxurra cave houses a collection of more than a hundred engraved animal depictions, located in deep parts of the cave and mostly hidden in raised areas. This archaeological record reveals the complexity of artistic production during the Upper Palaeolithic, with evidence of planning in terms of iconography, location, and lighting systems.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Hector de la Fuente Juez, Marta Navazo, Alfonso Benito-Calvo, Florent Rivals, Mariano Amo-Salas, Pedro Alonso-Garcia
Summary: The relationship between Neanderthal groups and their environment is crucial in understanding their ways of life. Through the study of fauna assemblages using zooarchaeology and taphonomy, this article analyzes the findings from Level 4 of Prado Vargas Cave in Spain. The results reveal that Neanderthal groups were the main agents responsible for accumulating the animal remains at the site. They systematically and intensively exploited small- and medium-sized animal carcasses, primarily deer, for their muscles, bone marrow, skins, and tendons. The analysis also suggests that the site was frequently used as a long-term campsite, with minimal carnivore activity during periods of human absence.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Ron Shimelmitz, Steven L. Kuhn, Michael Bisson, Mina Weinstein-Evron
Summary: Through analyzing Layer J72S of Unit X in Tabun Cave and other Acheulo-Yabrudian cultural remains, the study reveals the technological and cultural changes during the transition from the Lower to Middle Paleolithic. This suggests that the shift from Lower to Middle Paleolithic may involve a synthesis of old and new technological concepts, rather than a simple displacement process.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Maayan Lev, Ron Shimelmitz, Mina Weinstein-Evron, Reuven Yeshurun
Summary: This paper aims to reconstruct the long-term paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic records of the Middle and Late Pleistocene Nahal Me'arot, Mount Carmel, Israel, using the archaeological herpetofauna assemblages. The study shows changes in temperature and humidity and their correlation with different hominin populations in the site. However, correlating with regional off-site records remains challenging.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Brooks Hanson, Shelley Stall, Joel Cutcher-Gershenfeld, Kristina Vrouwenvelder, Christopher Wirz, Yuhan (Douglas) Rao, Ge Peng
Summary: AI tools are transforming data-driven science, but better ethical standards and data management are needed to support its growth and prevent issues.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Izzy Wisher, Paul Pettitt, Robert Kentridge
Summary: Virtual Reality (VR) has great potential in archaeology, particularly in understanding the emergence and development of prehistoric art. A study conducted using VR technology revealed that modern participants showed similar visual attention patterns to Palaeolithic artists, perceiving animal-like features on cave walls. These preliminary results support the hypothesis that the cognitive mechanism of pareidolia played a key role in the creation of Palaeolithic art, suggesting the efficacy of interdisciplinary VR research in understanding art evolution.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Geeta G. Persad, Bjorn H. Samset, Laura J. Wilcox
Summary: The article points out that estimates of regional change and climate extremes risks often overlook a significant player.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthew Hutson
Summary: China, the EU, and the US are implementing measures to control the development of artificial intelligence.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dyani Lewis
Summary: Easy gains from upgrading power-plant smokestacks will be strengthened only by deeper policy changes.
Article
Environmental Studies
Maria Candela Ruiz, Javier Valdes-Abellan, Concepcion Pla, Miguel Fernandez-Mejuto, David Benavente
Summary: The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of land cover on recharge in the Almudaina-Segaria aquifer, through the simulation of different land cover scenarios. The results showed a 32% decrease in the total water volume entering the aquifer when extensive agriculture was replaced by natural forests, with a remarkable drop in the water table elevation for a large portion of the aquifer, depending on geology and topography.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Concepcion Pla, Maria Candela Ruiz, Sara Gil-Oncina, Noe Garcia-Martinez, Juan Carlos Canaveras, Soledad Cuezva, Angel Fernandez-Cortes, Sergio Sanchez-Moral, David Benavente
Summary: Rull cave in Vall d'Ebo, Spain, is a karstic cave developed in Miocene conglomerates and Cretaceous limestones. Continuous monitoring of the cave atmosphere and soil from 2012 to 2022 reveals spatial distribution and temporal variations of gaseous concentration (Rn-222 and CO2), providing insight into the complex relationships within the soil-cave-atmosphere system. The cave maintains stable temperature and humidity levels, with two distinct gaseous stages observed throughout the year. Findings show that the dynamics of CO2 and Rn-222 in the cave air follow different patterns, influenced by external and internal factors.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geography
Jose Luis Goy, Caridad Zazo, Javier Elez, Antonio Miguel Martinez-Grana, J. C. Canaveras, Cristino Jose Dabrio, Elsa Duarte, Irene De Bustamante, Sergio Sanchez Moral
Summary: Along the northern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, geomorphologic maps have been created to study the caves and landforms in the area. By examining erosional surfaces and marine morphologies, researchers were able to reconstruct past sea-level positions and paleo-shorelines. The study revealed a general sequence of elevations between 275-120 m and 90-1 m above sea level, indicating the beginning of the Quaternary period at 172 m a.s.l.
Article
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Marli de Jongh, David Benavente, Maureen Young, Callum Graham, Martin Lee
Summary: The application of hydrophobic treatments for protecting stone heritage has been researched for decades. This study investigates the long-term efficiency of hydrophobic treatments by revisiting a test area at Arbroath Abbey where the treatment was applied over 40 years ago. The results show that silane-based treatments can successfully protect sandstone when applied correctly, reducing decay and maintaining hydrophobicity over time. However, the heterogeneity of sandstone may affect the compatibility of the treatment, and further analyses are needed to accurately determine the conservation status of the treated area. Considering the increasing wetness of climates, hydrophobic treatments are important to consider for protecting stone heritage.
Article
Geology
I. F. Blanco-Quintero, A. Martin-Algarra, E. Santamaria-Perez, J. M. Gonzalez-Jimenez, A. Sanchez Navas, D. Benavente, J. C. Canaveras, A. Garcia-Casco
Summary: The sedimentary successions in southern Spain contain shallow-intrusive basic bodies of Mesozoic age, which have experienced low-grade Alpine metamorphism. The magmatic protoliths are subalkaline (tholeiitic) to alkaline basaltic magmas enriched in incompatible elements. The metamorphic minerals include magnesioriebeckite, actinolite, albite, stilpnomelane, phengite, and chlorite. The P-T conditions suggest a collisional (Barrovian) event and metamorphic correlation with the accreted passive margin of South Iberia.
INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGY REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tamara Martin-Pozas, Angel Fernandez-Cortes, Soledad Cuezva, Juan Carlos Canaveras, David Benavente, Elsa Duarte, Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez, Sergio Sanchez-Moral
Summary: In the absence of sunlight, caves harbor a diverse range of microbial colonies, including yellow biofilms, which pose a serious threat to the conservation of cultural heritage. This study aims to identify the microbial structures and most characteristic taxa of yellow biofilms, determine their growth factors, and understand their spatial distribution. The results reveal specific bacterial genera, such as wb1-P19, Crossiella, Nitrospira, and Arenimonas, associated with yellow biofilms. This comprehensive study of microbial communities in a cave provides insights for identifying similar biofilms in other caves and designing effective conservation strategies.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Geography, Physical
C. Pla, S. Gil-Oncina, M. C. Ruiz, J. C. Canaveras, S. Cuezva, A. Fernandez-Cortes, S. Sanchez-Moral, D. Benavente
Summary: Rull Cave is a tourist cave in Alicante, Spain, with an average of 15,091 visitors per year. The cave maintains stable temperature and humidity values despite the presence of visitors. The study focuses on measuring the environmental conditions inside and outside the cave and understanding the gaseous dynamics and relationships in the three-component system (soil-cave-atmosphere).
EUROKARST 2022: ADVANCES IN THE HYDROGEOLOGY OF KARST AND CARBONATE RESERVOIRS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Tamara Martin-Pozas, Soledad Cuezva, Angel Fernandez-Cortes, David Benavente, Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez, Sergio Sanchez-Moral
Summary: This study investigates the prokaryotic diversity in Castan cave in Spain, and finds that sediment texture and environmental conditions have an impact on the microbial community structure. The cave hosts heterotrophic and chemoautotrophic bacteria, and shows minimal impacts from human activities.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
L. Crespo-Lopez, D. Benavente, S. Morales-Ruano, M. Vazquez-Vilchez, G. Cultrone
Summary: The aim of this study was to assess how adding crushed household glass to the clay mix affects the properties of handmade bricks. Non-destructive techniques were used to characterize the bricks made with different clays and with or without the glass additive. The study found that the addition of glass increased the vitrification and compressive strength of the bricks, but the firing temperature influenced the color and physical-mechanical properties. However, the bricks with added glass may be less suitable for heritage restoration work due to color variation.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
