Late Pleistocene site formation and paleoclimate at Lapa do Picareiro, Portugal

摘要: The cave site of Lapa do Picareiro, Portugal contains a deep (~10 m) sedimentary sequence representing much the Middle and Upper Paleolithic, with abundant animal bones, lithic/bone/shell artifacts, charcoal/ash in hearths. A deposition model based on 49 radiocarbon ages demonstrates average sedimentation rates 0.1–0.3 mm −1 between 9 45 ka. Extrapolation suggests an age at base excavation 65–78 sediments are primarily limestone eboulis derived from roof spalling, muddy fine sediment weathered soil infiltrating through bedrock joints crevices. Bone preservation is good disturbance by bioturbation, dissolution, or erosional processes appears to be limited. Most sedimentological parameters vary conservatively depth, indicating stable sources over time. Several show agreement paleoclimate records radiocarbon‐dated section. cold‐arid Heinrich stadials represented coarse‐clast beds little magnetic susceptibility minima, mild Greenland interstadials correspond sharp peaks susceptibility. This study complements ongoing archaeological confirms that has proper age, resolution, inform Late Pleistocene cultural climatic transitions.