ARTICLE IN PRESS

Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089

The Early to Middle Pleistocene boundary in the Baza Basin (Spain)

L. Giberta,, G. Scottb, R. Martinc, J. Gibertd
a
Department Enginyeria Minera i Recursos Naturals, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Bases de Manresa 61-73, Manresa 08240, Spain
b
Berkeley Geochronology Center, 2455 Ridge Road, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA
c
Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, Murray, KY 42071, USA
d
Institut de Paleontologı´a ‘‘M.Crusafont’’, Escola Industrial 23, Sabadell 08201, Spain
Received 31 May 2006; received in revised form 2 May 2007; accepted 17 June 2007

Abstract

The continental vertebrate fauna of Cúllar Baza-1 (Granada, Spain) occur immediately above the Matuyama/Brunhes polarity
boundary, and therefore represent an initial record for the Middle Pleistocene. All polarity zones for the Late Pliocene through Middle
Pleistocene are found in an 80 m section, which includes this fossil quarry. The existing collection of abundant remains of micro-
mammals, macro-mammals and lithic artifacts (indicating human activity) can now be assigned an earliest Middle Pleistocene age of
0.75 Ma. Another section, 25 km across the Neogene Baza Basin, also has the Matuyama/Brunhes polarity boundary. However, in this
case the Huéscar-1 fossil quarry and the Puerto Lobo sites are both below the polarity boundary, thus representing a record of the late
Early Pleistocene at 0.9 Ma. Differences in micro-mammal species across these Matuyama/Brunhes boundaries are significant and
justify an approximately coincident biostratigraphic boundary between the Biharian and Toringian stages.
r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
The intra-montane Guadix-Baza Basin is the largest of
the late Neogene inland basins of the Betic Cordillera. As a
consequence of the Alpine Orogeny, this Basin was isolated
from the sea during the late Miocene (Sanz de Galdeano
and Vera, 1992). The Basin had an internal drainage of
approximately 4000 km2 and could be divided into two
sub-basins. Generally, the Guadix Basin to the southwest
was filled with alluvial deposits, while lacustrine deposits,
along with fluvial/alluvial marginal deposits (Fig. 1),
dominated the Baza Basin to the northeast.
Six hundred meters of late Neogene continental sedi-
mentary infilling is exposed in the marginal northeastern
part of the Baza Basin (Gibert L, 2006). Gravity and
seismic studies indicate 42500 m of lacustrine sediments
buried near the town of Baza (Alfaro et al., in press). The
paleo-environments within the Baza Basin included a
shallow saline lake complex, surrounded by saline mud-
flats, freshwater ponds, small rivers with floodplains and
deltas (Gibert L. et al., 2005, 2007). The grass-covered
Corresponding author. Tel.: +34 937472423.
E-mail address: gbeotas@hotmail.com (L. Gibert).
upland slopes merged into alluvial fans from the surround-
ing mountains. The Baza Basin continued accumulating
sediment until tectonic movements and stream piracy
initiated rapid and prolonged erosion (Calvache and
Viseras, 1997), stripping the softer, upper strata and
leaving behind the more resistant layers that make up the
present-day topography.
The Baza Basin has produced 440 fossil vertebrate sites
of Late Miocene, Pliocene and Pleistocene age, along
with some lithic artifact sites of Pleistocene age showing the
activity of early man (Ruiz-Bustos, 1976, 1984; Gibert J.
et al., 1998, 2006). Magnetostratigraphic studies from the
northeastern part of the Basin (Gibert L. et al., 2006;
Scott et al., 2007) have generated a polarity sequence
for the Orce-Venta Micena sections (three magnetozones,
reverse–normal–reverse) revealing the Pliocene/Pleistocene
boundary and calibration of the MN17 (mammal
Neogene zone) upper boundary. The youngest deposits
in these sections are of Early Pleistocene age (pre-Jaramillo
chron or 41.1 Ma), bounded by an upper erosion
surface at 965 m asl. Other areas in the Basin have supplied
fossils that indicate younger fauna than in the Orce-Venta
Micena area; these are Puerto Lobo-Huéscar and Cúllar,
the focus of this report. Both of these younger areas have

0277-3791/$ - see front matter r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2007.06.012
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2068 L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089
Fig. 1. Location maps. The Baza Basin (SE Iberian peninsula) showing the stratigraphic sections and paleontological sites. 1—Cúllar section and quarry
CB-1; 2—Puerto Lobo sections and sites; 3—Loma Quemada sites; 4—Huéscar-3 site; 5—Sabinar section; 6—Orce sections and quarries FN-1, VM, BL-
5, and FN-3; 7—Oria road section.
well-exposed sedimentary sections, interbedded with fossi-
liferous sites and thus are well suited for detailed
magnetostratigraphic research. This study furthers our
general goal of developing a wider and more complete
chronologic and biostratigraphic framework for the Baza
Basin. All geologic observations in this report are the
product of the authors, unless specifically referred.
2. The Cúllar section
In 1975, Cúllar Baza-1 (CB-1) was the initial paleonto-
logical excavation in the Baza Basin, which now includes
numerous archeological/paleontological quarries, mostly
concentrated in the Orce area, 20 km to the NE (e.g. Venta
Micena, Fuente Nueva-3). An early Middle Pleistocene age
was assigned to CB-1 using faunal criteria (Ruiz-Bustos
and Michaux, 1976; Ruiz-Bustos, 1984).
A preliminary magnetostratigraphic and paleontologic
study was made 2 km NW from the CB-1 quarry (UTM
30537120E, 4159537N, Z ¼ 890–905; Fig. 2) (Agustı́ et al.,
1999). Situated 50 m stratigraphically below the CB-1
level, that study consisted of a 14 m section with 10
paleomagnetic and three paleontologic levels. The Cúllar
section in this current report is meant to supersede and
expand these preliminary observations. We will emphasize
the following advantages: (A) an additional 70 m of
overlying strata were sampled; (B) the paleontological
quarry CB-1 was included within the new section; (C) most
of the samples from the new collection have high-quality
remanent polarities (mostly reddish-brown siltstones and
paleosols); and (D) field tests were conducted to indicate
the stability and antiquity of remanence. By incorporating
the results from the preliminary section (Agustı́ et al., 1999)
into this expanded section, the following features were
revealed: (1) the paleontological site CU-A will not be
considered further, since it has only a sparse collection of
post-cranial bones, as none were originally reported
(Agustı́ et al., 1999); (2) the upper 4 m of that preliminary
section are not part of the Baza Formation, but are
unconsolidated or poorly consolidated claystones, sand-
stones and conglomerates composed of intra-basin clasts
and discontinuous calcrete beds that belong to the much
younger post-erosional, valley in-fill deposits; and (3) the
paleontological site CU-C, within these post-Baza deposits,
is Late Pleistocene or latest Middle Pleistocene, as are the
uppermost three normal polarity samples in the prelimi-
nary report. Our observations indicate that these young
post-Baza Formation deposits are extensively preserved
along the flanks of the present Cúllar River Valley and are
significantly younger than the erosive opening of the Basin
(Fig. 3).
In the present study, a magnetostratigraphic section was
developed 2 km SE of the town of Cúllar. This section
starts near the Cúllar River (UTM coordinates:
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Fig. 2. Aerial photos. The Cúllar (top) and Puerto Lobo (bottom) areas, showing the primary and ancillary magnetostratigraphic sections as dashed lines.
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2070 L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089

Fig. 3. Photos of post-Baza Formation outcrops. Preliminary Cúllar paleomagnetic section of Agustı́ et al. (1999) (line A–B) shows the disconformity and
samples within overlying (Upper Pleistocene) deposits. Photos: 1: general view with 14m sampled section and position of younger valley fill deposits
(between dashed lines). 2: location of three samples along road cut, the upper of these samples was collected above the disconformity (dashed line) and
shows normal polarity (Agustı́ et al., 1999). Note initial dip toward valley (left) in younger beds. 3: recent excavation (50 m from section) showing
disconformity. 4: details at point ‘g’ in photo 2, showing unconsolidated conglomerate with subangular intra-basin clasts immediately below discontinuous
calcrete bed (top normal bed of preliminary section). Similar exposures are typical along both sides of the immediate Cúllar valley.

30539063E, 4159055N, Z ¼ 900), follows the Oria road
and then the side valley towards the CB-1 quarry
(30538659E, 4158276N, Z ¼ 966) until the top of the
valley (30538709E, 4158186N, Z ¼ 975). The upper 5 m
of the section were collected in the next valley to the
west (30539182E, 4157813N, Z ¼ 985). The section
totals 81 m in thickness, starting above Mesozoic carbo-
nates, including the paleontological quarry CB-1 (Fig. 2),
and ending with the uppermost strata below the
erosive llano surface. This new section was made in
fresh outcrops or road cuts of alluvial fan and palustrine
facies. Paleomagnetic samples were taken from the
finer-grained units (primarily siltstones) between the
conglomerate beds and lenses. Conglomeratic channels
provided an opportunity to apply the conglomerate/tilt test
to fine-grained blocks swept from the banks of the paleo-
channels.
3. The Puerto Lobo section
The Puerto Lobo section was located in the northern
margin of the Baza Basin, 3 km SE of the town of Huéscar
and 25 km north from the Cúllar section (Fig. 1). This area
is adjacent to a far-ranging normal fault (Soria et al., 1987)
with a minimum estimated displacement of 30 m (direction
049/70N). In a previous study of a subaqueous landslide of
Early Pleistocene age, a few reverse polarity samples were
collected from the upthrown side of this fault (Gibert L. et
al., 2005). On the downthrown side of the fault are the
stratigraphically higher fossil sites of Puerto Lobo and
Huéscar-1, along with the new magnetostratigraphic
sections (Fig. 2).
The Puerto Lobo section (UTM coordinates 30543408E,
4182540N, Z ¼ 935–965; Fig. 2) starts in strata from the
distal fluvial facies (mudflats, overbank deposits) rich in
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L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089
metamorphic grains of southern provenance. North-
directed paleocurrents dominate in this northeastern
margin of the Basin, where small local ponds had
developed. These deposits belong to the same lithostrati-
graphic unit as those in the highest topographic position
across the fault, in the upthrown block. The Puerto Lobo
(PL) paleontological site (Agustı́, 1984) is located in the
topographically lower (older) part of the down-faulted
block. Higher in the section there are palustrine deposits,
capped by a continuous alluvial unit composed of cross-
bedded gravels and siltstones with paleocurrents towards
the SW. This uppermost unit shows a distinct change in
clast composition and provenance (Mesozoic carbonate
from the north and east) compared to the lower part of the
section (metamorphic grains from the southern moun-
tains).
The site of Huéscar-1 (HU-1) (UTM 30543727E,
4183228N, Z ¼ 948) is located in the next valley (Barranco
de Las Cañadas), o1 km NE of PL (Fig. 2). There are two
other paleontological sites in these younger deposits of the
down-faulted block: Loma Quemada-1 and -2 (LQ-1, LQ-
2), 2 km W (30541848E, 4181276N, Z ¼ 900) (Soria et al.,
1987). LQ-1 and LQ-2 have a micromammal fauna similar
to that from PL (Agustı́, 1984). The site of Huéscar-3 (HU-
3) (30543408E, 4182540N, Z ¼ 1000) is located close to the
PL section, but is on the other side of the fault in the
upthrown block. The HU-3 fauna are Pliocene in age (Sesé,
1989), thus much older than those from sites on the down-
dropped side.
The Puerto Lobo and Barranco de Las Cañadas areas
expose a variety of lithologies and show lateral changes in
local facies. Wherever possible, we collected the reddish-
brown siltstones for these preliminary magnetostrati-
graphic sections. Good exposures allow for the integration
of biostratigraphic and paleomagnetic data into a litho-
stratigraphic frame. These results offer an opportunity to
identify magnetozone boundaries and to make a distant
correlation to the contemporaneous Cúllar section. Pa-
leontological sites with similar age but in different paleo-
environmental and paleogeographical situations allow an
examination of faunal diversity (Alberdi et al., 2001), as
well as a more complete biostratigraphy.
4. Methods
Recent work in the Baza Basin provided a detailed
lithostratigraphic frame for the NE sector, around Orce-
Venta Micena, along with the magnetostratigraphic loca-
tion of the Pliocene–Pleistocene boundary (Scott et al.,
2007). This present study is an expansion both northwards
to Huéscar and southwestwards to Cúllar. Numerous
stratigraphic sections have been measured in and between
these three areas, permitting some insight into the
complexity of deposition facies and the paleo-topographic
relationships across this part of the Baza Basin. These
different paleo-geographical situations show lateral litho-
logic changes, ranging from the coarse-grained facies
2071
typical of paleo-margins to the fine-grained sulfate-
dominated facies around the central paleo-lake. Although
a detailed lithostratigraphic correlation between these three
marginal sites remains ellusive, the addition of magneto-
zones greatly improves the temporal correspondence.
4.1. Sampling methodology
We chose the most propitious sections in the two areas
to study. These sections have three characteristics: (1)
abundant reddish-brown, fine-grained lithologies for pa-
leomagnetic sampling; (2) ease of correlation to other
nearby sections; and (3) close to or including paleontolo-
gical sites to calibrate the polarity sequence. In 2003, we
collected preliminary samples (n ¼ 11) from both sections
(Cúllar and Puerto Lobo). This provided an outline of the
polarity zonation and an indication of the magnetic
behavior of the different lithologic types. Additional
samples were collected in 2004 (n ¼ 16), expanding the
sections. In 2005, we made more detailed collections
(n ¼ 41) extending the sections and refining the position
of each magnetozone boundary.
In the Cúllar section, we tested the continuity of the
uppermost magnetozone boundary (R to N) by collecting
samples in stratigraphically equivalent beds along the Oria
road (n ¼ 5) (UTM 30559593E, 4158301N, Z ¼ 970)
(Fig. 2). We also collected samples (n ¼ 4) from a
boulder-sized tilted block, broken from the wall of a
paleo-channel (Fig. 5). The orientation of the remanent
magnetic vector in strata within this rotated block would
be a specific test for the antiquity of remanence. This field
test would indicate which magnetic components were
produced at an early diagenetic stage and which components
were produced after the bank collapsed into the paleo-
channel. At Puerto Lobo the upper part of the section
showed weakly held remanence and ambiguous polarities, so
we resampled (n ¼ 6) equivalent strata in reddish-brown
lithologies (taking advantage of a local facies change) at
Barranco de Las Cañadas (just above the site HU-1) (Fig. 2).
4.2. Paleomagnetism
We collected block samples (Cúllar n ¼ 55, Puerto Lobo
n ¼ 13) directly through the sections, in shallow excava-
tions made by hand, and in road cuts. From each oriented
block, at least three specimen cubes (10–15 cm3) were cut
and sanded (without water), then cleaned with compressed
air. Measurements were made at the Berkeley Geochronol-
ogy Center with a three-axis cryogenic magnetometer
(noise level 1  1012 Am2) enclosed within a room-sized
magnetostatic shield (average field 350 nT). Alternating
field (AF) demagnetization (static three-axis, to at least
12 mT) was followed by thermal demagnetization (in at
least eight steps) starting at 90 1C (non-inductive furnace,
residual field o2 nT). Polarity results exclude two unstable
samples at Cúllar and three at Puerto Lobo. In general, the
quality of the remanence recorded was excellent for the
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Fig. 4. Paleomagnetic specimen data from Cúllar section. Orthogonal demagnetization diagrams (vector endpoints during demagnetization) are shown for
specimens from normal (left) and reverse (right) strata. Horizontal projects are shown as triangles, vertical projection as circles, and NRM (4 mT) starting
point as asterisks. Magnetization is in units of A/m. The 200 1C demagnetization step delimits modern (normal) from ancient (normal or reverse)
remanence. Directional changes also shown as stereographic projections (circle is horizontal plane) with solid (open) symbols on lower (upper) hemisphere.

common light reddish-brown siltstones/claystones (93% of
samples) or was poor for the light gray mudstones,
sandstones and carbonates (7% of samples). All specimens
have a two-component magnetization (Fig. 4) made up of a
low-coercivity/low-temperature component (toward the
modern field direction) and a higher temperature compo-
nent (in the normal or reverse direction). Variable ratios
between the modern and ancient remanence components
are the cause for the variations in demagnetization
response (Fig. 4). The modern field component was
effectively reduced by AF treatment followed by heating
to 200 1C (0001/531, a95 ¼ 2.81, n ¼ 45; goethite only:
000 1/531, a95 ¼ 2.31, n ¼ 44).
A few samples displayed a more complex magnetization,
with higher temperature components showing both normal
and reverse polarity. These samples were adjacent to
magnetozone boundaries, apparently reflecting an integra-
tion of ambient magnetic fields and events. This was most
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L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089
Fig. 5. Field test. Road cut showing channel of conglomerate in the lower Cúllar section, with an enclosed ‘tilted block’ (notebook for scale). Four
paleomagnetic samples from block are shown schematically (sample CU05-31 is of normal polarity). Wall rocks, outside of channel are of the same
lithology (siltstone) as in the ‘tilted block’.
noticeable in a sample (+28 m) within the middle normal
zone. As a test this block was cut into 17 specimens (as
small as 2 cm3), producing five normal (012/54, a95 ¼ 8.91),
five reverse (206/56, a95 ¼ 21.31) and seven intermediate
results. These detailed specimens spanned only 7 cm
vertically; however, the polarities were irregularly distrib-
uted in three dimensions. Since this sample was of typical
lithology (siltstone with immature paleosol textures), we
assume that the ambient field changed polarity during the
pedogenic alteration process affecting this bed.
Sample directions were calculated both from furthest
position along great circle trends (shown) and from least-
squared line-fit of vector endpoints. The line-fit results were
similar to the great circle trends (75% have o101
difference), although slightly less consistent and usually
(68%) closer to the modern field. The stratigraphic
sequences of paleomagnetic directions are displayed as
the angular difference (D) between a specimen direction (S)
and the expected normal direction (N) (Hoffman, 1984).
This plot directly reflects the multiple component nature of
these vector data. Calculations of VGP latitudes would
yield the same polarity zonation, but are not shown as an
explicit caution against interpreting minor directional
variations as geomagnetic phenomenon.
4.3. Paleontology
4.3.1. Introduction
In the absence of radiometric dates, rodent biochronol-
ogy is helpful for temporal calibration of a polarity
sequence. Below, we briefly review the history of rodent
biostratigraphy in the Cúllar and Puerto Lobo regions and
comment on taxonomic issues. In later sections we discuss
2073
the specimens in detail and then interpret their biostrati-
graphic significance.
For a variety of reasons, some biological and some
probably related to collecting bias, most of the Guadix-
Baza micromammal samples are dominated by arvicolid
rodents. Fortunately, the diversity of arvicolid species in
the Basin, combined with their rapid speciation throughout
the holarctic region during the late Neogene, makes their
remains useful for correlation purposes. Nevertheless, there
is considerable disagreement on fossil arvicolid taxonomy
among European investigators. It is beyond this treatment
to summarize all the pertinent literature. A more compre-
hensive review will be published elsewhere. At this point,
we choose to treat most European ‘‘Microtus-like’’ species
as members of the genus Microtus, with a common
Mimomys ancestor. Thus Allophaiomys, Stenocranius,
Iberomys, Terricola, etc. are considered subgenera of
Microtus. Also, following van der Meulen (1978), we do
not recognize the subgenus Pitymys in Europe. This name
is reserved for the North American M. (Pitymys) pinetorum
and its relatives, although its ancestor, M. cumberlandensis,
apparently immigrated back into North America from Asia
during the Middle Pleistocene (van der Meulen, 1978).
Fossil relatives may eventually crop up in the Old World.
For many years Arvicola has been considered to represent a
genus separate from Microtus, evolved from the extinct
Mimomys savini. However, a new paradigm of Arvicola
evolution has been proposed (Ruiz-Bustos, 1999) suggest-
ing that Arvicola and Microtus share a common Mimomys
ancestor, with M. savini as a separate sterile Mimomys
lineage. In either case, the progression of evolution in the
first lower molar (m1) of European Arvicola has been
extensively documented (e.g., Heinrich, 1990; Ruiz-Bustos,
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2074 L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089
1999; Maul et al., 2000), and the morphology of Arvicola
molars can be valuable for correlation purposes. For
instance, Spanish populations of fossil Arvicola with
relatively small molars and negative enamel differentiation
can be assumed to be older than ones of larger size and
negative differentiation or with positive differentiation
(Ruiz-Bustos, 1999). Likewise, rootless Microtus m1s
demonstrate many features that have both taxonomic
and evolutionary meaning, including complexity of pattern
(number and form of triangles) and enamel differentiation.
However, there are a number of named species in western
Europe with overlapping m1 morphologies, and with
sparse fossil material it is often difficult or impossible to
make a satisfactory species identification. For example,
there are at least five ‘‘Allophaiomys-type’’ species with m1
morphology that are somewhat advanced over ‘‘typical’’
Microtus (Allophaiomys) pliocaenicus from the type
locality of Betfia, Romania (Kormos, 1930; Hir, 1998)
including M. ruffoi (Pasa, 1947), M. burgondiae (Chaline,
1972), M. nutiensis (Chaline, 1972), M. chalinei (Alcalde
et al., 1981), M. vandermeuleni (Agustı́, 1991), and M.
lavocati (Laplana and Cuenca-Bescos, 2000). We agree
with Ruiz-Bustos (1999) that M. chalinei, originally
described from Cueva Victoria in south-eastern Spain
(and also identified from Atapuerca in north-western
Spain; Cuenca-Bescos et al., 2001), is an Arvicola, though
its dental complexity excludes it from ancestry of modern
A. terrestris or A. sapidus. Microtus vandermeuleni was
recently allocated to the genus Tibericola (Ünay et al.,
2001; Agustı́ and Madurell, 2005).
Ruiz-Bustos and Michaux (1976) first reported arvicolid
rodents from the Cúllar Baza-1 (CB-1) locality. Agustı́
(1986) proposed a rodent biochronology for the early and
middle Pleistocene, including new material from the
localities near Cúllar (CU-A, B, C) assigned to the Upper
Biharian. Localities near Huéscar (HU-2, LQ-1 and PL)
were assigned to the Middle Biharian European land
mammal age (ELMA), older than the Cúllar Baza and
Cúllar localities. Sesé (1989) reviewed much of the rodent
material from the Guadix-Baza Basin, and reported
specimens from HU-1. The age suggested for HU-1 was
‘‘middle Pleistocene’’, while PL and LQ were ‘‘lower
Pleistocene’’, and CB-1 was Biharian. An attempt to
correlate paleontological localities in the Cúllar area with
the geomagnetic polarity time scale (Agustı́ et al., 1999)
placed CB-1 in the Toringian ELMA with CU-A, B and C
beneath, in the Biharian. A normal polarity zone at the
level of CU-C was assumed to be from the earliest Brunhes
(based on geologic observations described in this current
report, site CU-C is out of stratigraphic context and is now
assigned to the late Brunhes). CU-A and -B, in sediments
of reversed polarity, were placed just below the Brunhes in
chron C1r.1r (this current report changes the assignment to
an older chron: C1r.2r). These latter localities were
allocated to the Biharian. An arvicolid rodent biochronol-
ogy for the Guadix-Baza area was proposed (Agustı́ et al.,
1999), with Arvicola cantinaus representing the Toringian
(following Fejfar et al., 1998) and three superposed
Biharian zones, from youngest to oldest Terricola
arvalidens, Allophaiomys burgondiae and Allophaiomys
pliocaenicus. They confirmed the earlier placement of CB-
1 in the Toringian, but did not refer to localities in the
Huéscar area. A new biostratigraphic scheme was pro-
posed for the Orce region in a recent comment paper
by Agustı́ et al. (2007), but the utilization of paleontolo-
gical sites located in landslide zones (O-2, O-3; Gibert L.
et al., 2006, 2007) and post-erosional deposits (Cu-C)
to build this biostratigraphy makes it of questionable
value.
4.3.2. Methods
We reviewed the existing collection of rodents from the
Cúllar and Huéscar areas housed at the Paleontological
Institute of Sabadell, along with some specimens provided
by Ruiz-Bustos. Two sets of sites bear on calibration of the
polarity sequence in the Cúllar area: Cúllar Baza-1, CU-A,
-B, -C. CB-1 produced numerous macro- and microfauna
remains (Ruiz-Bustos, 1976) while Agustı́ (1984) and
Agustı́ et al. (1999) described a few rodents from these
Cúllar sites. Four paleontological sites are known from the
Huéscar area: HU-1, HU-3, Puerto Lobo and Loma
Quemada (Agustı́, 1984; Sesé, 1989). HU-1 has produced
a large collection of macrofauna with some species of
microvertebrates (Sesé, 1989). Puerto Lobo and Loma
Quemada have produced only microvertebrates (Sesé,
1989; Agustı́ and Madurell, 2005). HU-3 is located 300 m
SE from HU-1 and is topographically 50 m higher but has
produced a Late Pliocene (Ruscinian) macro- and micro-
fauna (Sesé, 1989). This is explained by the presence of a
normal fault between these sites (Soria et al., 1987). The
specimens from HU-1 and -3 are not located in the
Institute of Paleontology in Sabadell. For these sites
we will rely entirely on the published faunal account
(Sesé, 1989). Other records in the database include both
references from the literature and our independent assess-
ment of material examined in the Institute of Paleontology
in Sabadell.
5. Results
5.1. New paleomagnetic data
Two new polarity sequences are now available in the
Baza Basin: Cúllar (81 m) in the southwest and Puerto
Lobo (31 m) in the northeast. The extensively sampled
Cúllar section has six major magnetozones: a 1.5 m reverse
zone in the lowest strata, followed by a 7.5 m normal zone,
then a 24 m reverse zone, a short normal zone of 2.5 m,
another long reverse zone (25.5 m), and at the top, a 19 m
normal magnetozone (Figs. 6 and 7). Near the base of the
uppermost normal zone is the paleontological/archaeolo-
gical site CB-1 with abundant mammalian remains and
lithic tools indicating human activity (Fig. 8). Near the
base of the lower long reverse polarity zone would be
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L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089 2075

Fig. 6. Magnetostratigraphic data for Cúllar section. Remanence directions, intensity and low-field susceptibility in relation to stratigraphic position are
shown, with means (open circles) and specimens (solid circles, 3 each). Lithostratigraphic column is shown with position of fossil quarry (bone symbol),
samples (arrows) and samples from ancillary section (C) along Oria road.

the projected stratigraphic level of site CU-B (using the tilted block used for the conglomerate/tilt stability test.
correlation of Agustı́ et al., 1999). A very short normal A short (o50 cm) magnetozone, this time with reverse
zone (o10 cm) was found 3 m above the lowest normal polarity, was found within the 2.5 m middle normal
zone. This cryptozone was inadvertently discovered in the magnetozone.
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2076 L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089

Fig. 7. Cúllar section correlated with GPTS. Geomagnetic polarity time scale (after Gradstein et al., 2004) is shown with correspondence to Cúllar
polarity zones, D (calculated from Dec. and Inc.) and lithostratigraphy. Cos (D) ¼ sin (Inc N)sin (Inc S)+cos (Inc N)cos (Inc S)cos (Dec N-Dec S)
(N ¼ 0001, 571; S ¼ specimen direction).
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L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089
Fig. 8. Lithic artifacts. Flint lithic tools from CB-1 quarry (1987 collection, after Vega Toscano, 1989).
The more sparsely sampled Puerto Lobo sections have
two magnetozones: a 18 m reverse zone, followed by a 13 m
normal polarity magnetozone (Fig. 9). This lower reverse
zone includes the sites of PL, LQ-1, LQ-2 and HU-1, with
their large collection of micro- and macro-fauna. No
fossiliferous sites have been described from the upper
normal zone; however, we identified lithic artefacts in the
conglomeratic gravel bed that caps this section.
5.2. Magnetochronology
Both studied sections present an almost continuous
sedimentary sequence typical of the marginal facies of an
underfilled basin. No evidence of extensive sedimentary
hiatuses have been identified, with missing time restricted
to levels with immature paleosols and local erosional
surfaces. Some features common to these Baza sections
argue for relatively complete sequences (after McMillan
et al., 2002): high sedimentation rates (10 cm/kyr) and the
large number of strata. This kind of sedimentary record
facilitates the correlation of the identified polarity zones
with the GPTS (Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale, after
Gradstein et al., 2004). Using the paleontological data as a
general age guide, as well as other tested polarity sequences
in the Basin (summarized by Scott et al., 2007), these new
2077
polarity zones can be correlated to the Pliocene-Pleistocene
part of the GPTS.
For the Cúllar section we correlate the lowest normal
zone to the Olduvai magnetochron (C2n), and the under-
lying reverse zone to the end of the early Matuyama
(C2r.1r). The normal polarity zone in the middle of the
section would then correlate to the Jaramillo subchron
(C1r.1n). The upper (19 m) normal zone, starting just
below site CB-1, would correlate to the Brunhes magne-
tochron (C1n). A very thin normal zone (o10 cm, tilt
tested) identified 3 m above the lowest normal zone could
be the Gilsa subchron (C1r.2r.5n, after Channell et al.,
2002). The other short zone, a reverse within the middle
normal zone is interpreted as C1r.1n.1r (see Guo et al.,
2002). Other possible correlations have significant flaws. If
the long upper normal zone corresponds to the Jaramillo
subchron, then the fauna of CB-1 would be 1.0–1.1 Ma,
which is probably too old. If the lowest normal zone
corresponds to the Jaramillo subchron (therefore, the
middle normal to the Santa Rosa (C1r.1r.1n) (Singer and
Brown, 2002) or the Kamikatsura subchron (Coe et al.,
2004)), then sediment accumulation would have begun late
in this area, and then proceed very rapidly (425 cm/kyr).
This would require the paleo-Cúllar Valley/Fan to change
from a paleo-topographic high to a paleo-topographic low.
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2078 L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089

Fig. 9. Magnetostratigraphic data, GPTS correlation- Puerto Lobo sections. Magnetic information, lithostratigraphy and correlation to GPTS for the
Puerto Lobo sections have the same conventions as in Figs. 6 and 7.
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L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089
This younger model is unsupported by the observed stable
mid-fan deposition environment draining westward into
the nearby paleo-Lake Baza with its distinct, but stable
subenvironments (Gibert et al., 2007).
For the less densely sampled Puerto Lobo sections, we
correlate the upper (13 m) normal magnetozone to the
Brunhes chron (C1n). This is guided by the youthfulness of
the faunal assemblage from sites HU-1 and PL. We
discount the other possibility of correlating the normal
magnetozone to the Jaramillo subchron, as this would
make these faunas 1.2–1.3 Ma. This is probably too old, as
the HU-1 and PL micromammals appear distinctly young-
er that those from the Orce-Venta Micena area (Fuente-
nueva-3, Barranco León-5) which are of this older age
(Scott et al., 2007).
These new results disagree with some previously
published chronologies for the sites CB-1 or Hu-1, dated
using biochronological methods (Hernández Fernández et
al., 2004) and for those dated using the amino-acid
racemization techniques (Torres et al., 1997; Ortı́z et al.,
2000, 2004).
5.3. Tests for antiquity of remanence
5.3.1. ‘‘Tilt block’’ test
Different components of magnetization can be acquired
during different events in a sample’s history. A continuing
challenge in magnetostratigraphic research is to determine
which, if any, of the remanent components were acquired
at the time of deposition, or at least early in the process of
lithification-diagenesis. To examine the antiquity of rema-
nence, the fold and conglomerate tests were developed by
Graham (1949). These tests take advantage of unusual
geologic situations where changes have occurred in the
orientation and/or position of newly deposited strata.
Some examples are: rip-up clasts, intra-formational con-
glomerates, bioturbation and slumps. These events physi-
cally rotate the young rock, along with any remanent
direction that was already stably magnetized. If the rock
had not acquired a stable remanence before rotation, it
would now have that opportunity, but in a new orienta-
tion. These types of tests allow a comparison of the
remanent directions (both measured and expected) at the
time of deposition and after the time of change. The shorter
the duration between deposition and rotation, the more
stringent the temporal constraints will be for the acquisi-
tion of remanent components.
In the Cúllar section, we found a situation where a
migrating paleo-channel cut into a newly deposited over-
bank deposit, causing blocks to cave off the paleo-channel
wall. These fallen blocks were then rotated and incorpo-
rated into the conglomeratic channel deposit. A boulder-
sized tilted block (60  40 cm) was found within the paleo-
channel, and used for a conglomerate or ‘‘tilted block’’ test.
The block (Fig. 5) has a rectangular shape and is composed
of reddish-brown sandstone and siltstone (bedding: strike
2851, dip 601N). The block’s original stratigraphic position
2079
can be recognized in the parent sediment located in the
adjacent walls of the paleo-channel. Four samples (six
specimens) were collected from this block, spanning 30 cm
of tilted strata.
Tilted samples show stable magnetic components at
about 901 from the expected paleo-field directions (0001/
+571 or 1801/571). These components are also distinct
from those in samples collected from in-situ strata back
from the channel walls. However, after correcting for the
bedding within the block, the sample directions have
reverse inclinations (701, in block coordinates) for three
levels and an approximately antipodal normal inclination
(+601) for the other level (Fig. 11). Using these limited
data, we can identify some additional features, since non-
antipodal paleomagnetic directions can be sensitive in-
dicators to the presence of secondary magnetization (Scott
and Hotes, 1996). Fig. 11 shows that the great circle
through these tilted bi-polar data includes the modern field
direction (within 71). This was unexpected, since reverse
polarity was the ambient field direction both before and for
a long time after the channel-forming event. This means
that among the secondary components, the reverse post-
depositional magnetizations (either pre- or post-tilting)
were not as important as the younger (modern) normal
component. Apparently, the processes of near-surface
alteration (weathering in the modern normal field)
dominate the secondary magnetization in these tilted
samples. A similarly directed, modern secondary compo-
nent is common in the data from most in-situ samples
through out the Cúllar section. The magnitude of this
secondary component can be calculated at 20% (relative
to the pre-tilting remanence intensity at 2001) using the
methodology in Scott and Hotes (1996). These techniques
also calculate an original average inclination of 651 for
these tilted samples (Fig. 11). Considering the limited
number of samples in this test, this successfully approx-
imates the expected mean inclination of 571.
The observations from this ‘tilted block’ field-test
produce four conclusions: (1) Much of the natural
remanent magnetization (NRM) was acquired at an early
stage of diagenesis and lithification. (2) No significant
ambient (reverse field) component of remanence was
acquired after the block broke loose and was incorporated
in the paleo-channel deposit. (3) A pre-tilting normal
zone (o10 cm thick) of short duration was found. The
presence of this very thin subzone within the tilted
block is another indication of rapid and early NRM
acquisition. (4) Laboratory demagnetization techniques
(AF followed by thermal) can greatly reduce the secondary
magnetizations in samples, but can still leave a 20%
residual component directed toward the modern (normal)
field.
5.3.2. Stratigraphic continuity tests
Changes in paleomagnetic polarity should be indepen-
dent of lithologic changes, and should be reproducable and
continuous between outcrops. To check the continuity of
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2080 L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089

Fig. 10. Detailed maps and cross-section profiles. Digital relief maps show the location of fossil sites and cross-sections. Topographic profiles have
geologic cross-sections, with polarity, paleo-current directions, and paleo-environments indicated. The Cúllar profile (A-B-C) shows the 6 polarity zones
through 81 m of section. The superseded results of Agustı́ et al. (1999) are 2 km W and 50 m below the CB-1 quarry. Their normal samples are in post-Baza
Formation deposits from the current episode of erosion. The Puerto Lobo-Barranco de las Cañadas section (A-B) shows an upper zone of ambiguous
polarity in PL (diagonal lines), which upon re-sampling 600 m to the north in B. Cañadas, was found to be a normal magnetozone.
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L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089 2081

Fig. 11. Antiquity of remanence field test. Paleomagnetic results from the tilt-block shown in Fig. 5 (4 sampled levels, 6 specimens total). Directions in the
present or in-situ coordinate frame are shown on the left, showing the bedding plane within the block (strike 2851, dip 601N). The nearly antipodal
directions are grouped at 0381, 321 (5 specimens, 3 stratigraphic levels), and at 2261, +541 (1 specimen, 1 stratigraphic level). The ambient (post-tilting)
normal and reverse paleo-field directions are shown as triangles (0001, +571; 1801, 571). Directions in the ancient bedding coordinate frame are on the
right, showing the bedding plane within the block as horizontal (although N is not paleo-north). The concentric circle at 571 inclination (+ or ),
represents expected values. Note that the reverse polarity group (1181, 701, a95 ¼ 8.61, k ¼ 100.3) and the normal sample (3411, 571) are not exactly
antipodal. Also, the great-circle connecting these bi-polar data passes close to the modern field direction (diamond), which is the common secondary
direction in other Cúllar results). Non-antipodal paleomagnetic directions provide the following parameters: a ¼ 631, b ¼ 111, g ¼ 231, s ¼ 0.22 (using
methods in Scott and Hotes, 1996). These calculations indicate 22% of the demagnetized remanence is still held by a secondary component in the direction
of the modern field.

the upper magnetozone boundary in the Cúllar section, we 5.4. Biostratigraphy

collected five additional samples along the Oria road, 1 km
east of the primary Cúllar section. Samples were from
stratigraphically equivalent beds; however, fewer palustrine
strata were present owing to a facies change (moving up
the paleo-slope from the ancient Lake Baza). The
change from reverse to normal magnetozone was found
in light brown and reddish-brown siltstones on both sides
of the boundary (Figs. 6 and 12). A less specific test for
continuity of magnetozones across facies involves the
correspondence between part of the Cúllar section’s middle
(24 m) reverse zone (reddish-brown siltstones) and the
(10 m) reverse zone fragment (Agustı́ et al., 1999) 2 km
north-west, in more distal, gray mudstones and yellow
sandstones. In our initial Puerto Lobo section, samples
(gray sandstones) above the continuous reverse magneto-
zone had scattered directions (ambiguous polarity). Thus,
we collected six samples from equivalent upper strati-
graphic levels, o1 km north-east in Barranco de Las
Cañadas (above the site HU-1). These additional samples
were from reddish-brown siltstones, and indicate a long
(13 m) normal polarity magnetozone (Figs. 9, 10), includ-
ing the uppermost exposures intercalated with cross-
bedded conglomerate.
Strata from the Cúllar area were used in an initial
attempt to calibrate the Early to Middle Pleistocene
boundary by Agustı́ et al. (1999). Our stratigraphic
observations and paleomagnetic results differ significantly
from theirs, and therefore influence the biostratigraphic
evaluations. Paleontologic and biostratigraphic modifica-
tions are noted below. We found one m1 referred to
Terricola arvalidens from CU-C and another m1 of
Castillomys crusafonti from CU-B in the collections of
the Paleontology Institute in Sabadell. Both were figured
by Agustı́ et al. (1999). However, we did not find any
specimens of Stenocranius gregaloides from the Cu-C site as
reported by Agustı́ et al. (2007). As indicated by the
crenulated anteroconid in the drawing (Agustı́ et al., 1999;
Fig. 3.1), the ‘‘Terricola’’ m1 from Cu-C is from a juvenile
individual. The area of the crenulations was broken off
when we recently viewed it, but the specimen is otherwise
intact. No identifiable molars were found in the collections
from CU-A and none were reported (Agustı́ et al., 1999).
Castillomys crusafonti was reported from four stratigraphic
horizons, spanning 70 m (Agustı́, 1986; Agustı́ et al., 1987;
Garcés et al., 1997) in the Galera Highway section (15 km
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L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089
ARTICLE IN PRESS
Fig. 12. Correlation panel for Cúllar, Orce and Huéscar sectors. Lithostratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic correlations between 3 areas with paleontological sites: CB-1 (Cúllar Baza-1), FN-1
(Fuentenueva-1), VM (Venta Micena), BL-5 (Barranco León-5), FN-3 (Fuentenueva-3), PL (Puerto Lobo) and HU-1 (Huéscar-1). The correlation Cúllar to Orce is based on the C2n (Olduvai) polarity
zone. The correlation Orce to Huéscar is based on linking a sequence of 9 lithostratigraphic sections (Gibert L, 2006). The offset on the Puerto Lobo fault (minimum shown) is based on matching clast
provenance. The correlation Puerto Lobo to Barranco de las Cañadas is based on physically following key beds.
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L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089
northeast of Cúllar). This long-lived species is of little value
for zonal calibration purposes at this stratigraphic level.
As noted above, we found a stratigraphic disconnect
between localities CU-B and CU-C with a 70 m hiatus
between. The site CU-C and the deposits that produced the
purported Terricola arvalidens molar occur in post-
erosional basin sediments (not in the Baza Formation);
therefore, the CU-C fossils must be considerably younger
than those from CB-1. This produces a correlational
problem, as M. arvalidens fossils from elsewhere in Europe
occur earlier than Arvicola cantianus and Microtus
brecciensis, the species from CB-1 (Table 1). The anatomy
of the broken arvicolid m1 from CU-C is similar to some
m1 morphotypes from Microtus (Terricola) arvalidens, but
it can also be duplicated in modern pine vole species,
including the extant M. duodecemcostatus from Spain
(Brunet-Lecomte, 1988). Closure of buccal reentrant angle
(BRA) 3 and lingual reentrant angle (LRA) 4, modest
penetration of BRA 4 and LRA 5 forming incipient but
distinct T6-7 in the anteroconid, plus the distinct positive
enamel differentiation, identify the molar piece as from an
advanced species of Microtus. The overall pattern, with
T4-5 confluent certainly suggests the subgenus Terricola.
Table 1
Faunal list
Compilation made for selected micro-mammals (rodents) and large mammals from Pleistocene paleontological sites in the Baza Basin and in northern
Spain (Atapuerca). Data compiled from Mazo et al. (1985), Alberdi et al. (1989), Garcı́a and Arsuaga (1999), van der Made (1999), Gibert J et al. (2001,
2002), van der Made and Mazo (2001), and Scott et al. (2007).
2083
Brunet-Lecomte (1988; Fig. 16) also showed that a
relatively simple morphology of m1, as demonstrated by
the CU-C specimen, can change with age (wear) into a
more complex molar in modern pine voles. We interpret
the arvicolid specimen from CU-C as a Late Pleistocene or
sub-Recent specimen of M. duodecemcostatus or another
related, morphologically advanced species. Therefore, the
‘‘Terricola arvalidens’’ zone of Agustı́ et al. (1999) is not
confirmed in the Cúllar sections. We do not know what
arvicolids existed directly below the Brunhes-Matuyama
boundary at Cúllar, although we can speculate based on
the rodents from Puerto Lobo and Huéscar-1.
The arvicolid species from Puerto Lobo and Huéscar-1
(Sesé, 1989), including Mimomys savini (both localities) and
Microtus huéscarensis (HU-1), are consistent with a late
Biharian date, in agreement with Fejfar et al. (1998) and
Agustı́ et al. (1999). Both species were reported by Cuenca-
Bescos et al. (1999) from Trinchera Dolina at Atapuerca, in
sediments of reversed polarity directly beneath the
Brunhes-Matuyama boundary. To date, Arvicola cantianus
( ¼ A. mosbachensis of Maul et al., 2000) has not been
recorded from the Matuyama chron. In fact, this species
does not seem to appear anywhere in Europe until about
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2084 L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089

0.60 Ma (Maul et al., 2000). Although an archaeological
and mammal assemblage with Arvicola cantianus was
initially reported from sediments older than 0.73 Ma at
Iserna la Pineta (Coltorti et al., 1982), new dates place this
association at about 0.61 Ma (Coltorti et al., 2005).
The paleontological sites located in the area of study can
be sequenced from older to younger (Figs. 12 and 13;
Tables 1 and 2) as follows: [Early Pleistocene] Cúllar
Baza-A and B (CU-A, CU-B); [late Early Pleistocene]
Puerto Lobo (PL), Loma Quemada (LQ) and Huéscar-1
(HU-1); [earliest Middle Pleistocene] Cúllar Baza-1
(CB-1); and the much younger [Late Pleistocene?] Cúllar
Baza-C (CB-C). These sites (except for CU-A, -B) are
located in a higher stratigraphic level than the Lower
Pleistocene paleontological/archeological quarries of the
Orce-Venta Micena sector (VM ¼ Venta Micena, BL-
5 ¼ Barranco Leon-5 and FN-3) (Table 1). The sites PL,
LQ, and HU-1 are placed between the Jaramillo and
Brunhes polarity zones, indicating a range in age of less
than 200 kyr.
Agustı́ and Madurell (2005) identified ‘‘Allophaiomys’’
ruffoi from VM and ‘‘Allophaiomys’’ lavocati from FN-3,
PL and LQ. Specimens from VM we have viewed and the
m1s illustrated from FN-3 by Agustı́ and Madurell (2005)
can be duplicated in the type material of ‘‘Allophaiomys’’
pliocaenicus from Betfia II, Romania, illustrated by Hir
(1998; Fig. 11). The PL and LQ specimens we have
examined are advanced over the simpler m1 morphotypes
reproduced by Hir (1998), and they do not display the
combination of distinctive narrowing of T4-5, tendency
towards closure of the dentine isthmus between T4-5 and
the anteroconid, and the reduced but elongated anteroco-
nid shape that characterizes M. lavocati. For now, until
more specimens have been collected and a quantitative
analysis has been completed, we prefer to view the
specimens from PL and LQ as Microtus sp.
The new paleomagnetic and stratigraphic information
presented in this paper, which place the Cúllar Baza-1 site
at 0.75 Ma (basically at the Matuyama-Brunhes boundary)
also sets a new date, at least in Spain, for the Toringian-
Biharian ELMA. As noted above, the extinct water vole
Arvicola cantianus has been generally used to define this
boundary (see Fejfar et al., 1998; Maul et al., 2000), and
has not previously been recorded from sediments securely
dated older than 0.61 Ma. But such changes are to be
expected as the stratigraphic and paleomagnetic history of
more basins becomes established. Since LMAs are defined
on the basis of fauna and not, strictly speaking, dates, it is
conceivable that the Toringian-Biharian boundary could
be of different times in different areas of Europe.
Theoretically, within a context of mosaic morphological
evolution, the A. cantianus dental morphology could evolve
at different rates in different areas. However, we think that
once established, a successful arvicolid species would
explosively disperse through Europe within a few hundred
years. The modern introduction and dispersal of the extant
North American muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus, in Europe is
a good example (Danell, 1996). Also, the paucity of

Fig. 13. Detailed correlation of Matuyama/Brunhes boundaries. The upper Matuyama to lower Brunhes magnetozone boundary correlation for the north
and east sectors of the Baza Basin, shows the diachronous development of sedimentary facies. The palustrine events at Cúllar and B. Cañadas are not
contemporaneous. These sedimentary events were controlled by paleo-geographic location at Cúllar and by neo-tectonic uplift nearby at B. Cañadas. Here
climate change was a secondary effect. In the PL section, paleo-currents switch direction between the base and top of the section as a consequence of the
uplift in Botardo hill.
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L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089
Table 2
Chronostratigraphic sequence and biozonation for the Baza Basin
A chronostratigraphic summary is shown for the paleontological sites in
the Baza Basin that can be correlated to the Geomagnetic Polarity Time
Scale. Also shown are the associated continental stages and preliminary
biozones for the Baza Basin.
appropriate sediments for radiometric dating and the
minimal number of long stratigraphic sequences for
magnetostratigraphic determinations in other European
settings can leave considerable flexibility in estimates of the
Toringian-Biharian boundary.
6. Chronostratigraphy and geological implications
Paleomagnetic polarity changes are worldwide events
with the advantage of chronostratigraphic horizons, that of
providing a glimpse into the events and processes happen-
ing at that specific time. Contemporaneous features and
influences such as paleo-geography, paleo-environments,
fauna and neo-tectonics can be compared accurately at
magnetozone boundaries or interpolated between bound-
aries. The Early Pleistocene has boundaries that are
approximated by the limits of two normal polarity chrons,
the Olduvai (C2n) and the Brunhes (C1n). For now, there
are three sections in the Baza Formation with one or more
of these ‘boundary’ reversals: Cúllar, Huéscar-Puerto Lobo
(both from this report) and the composite Orce sections
(Scott et al., 2007). These sections represent the processes
2085
of accumulation at three distinct points around the edges of
the Baza Basin, the south-central, the north-eastern and the
south-eastern, respectively, and provide an opportunity for
direct comparison and contrast (Figs. 12 and 13).
As a general observation, the Pliocene–Lower Pleisto-
cene boundary (top of Olduvai zone) in the Orce area is at
900 asl (Salar Valley; Scott et al., 2007), compared to the
same zone in Cúllar, also at 900 m asl. The Lower–Middle
Pleistocene boundary (base of Brunhes zone) in Cúllar is at
965 m (asl.) and in Huéscar-Puerto Lobo at 955 m (asl.),
but as of yet is not identified around Orce owing to erosion
and/or non-deposition.
Specific comparisons of paleo-environments can begin at
the start of the Pleistocene, when the Orce area, which had
been experiencing a period of protracted lacustrine
deposition, was the site of an advancing fluvial system
coming from an eastern highlands. Meanwhile in Cúllar,
the alluvial fan deposition, coming from the southern
highlands continued. As the Middle Pleistocene begins, the
Huéscar-Puerto Lobo area had been changing from ponds
and marshes fringing the northern Basin margins to small,
local fans and alluvial drainages coming from an emergent
neo-tectonic structure (Botardo Hill) (Fig. 13). Simulta-
neously at Cúllar, palustrine facies was prograding onto
the Cúllar fan, with an expansion of palustrine and distal
alluvial environments replacing the mid-fan and alluvial
facies.
Sedimentation rate in fine grain deposits of the Orce area
was 10 cm/kyr (Scott et al., 2007) through the Early
Pleistocene, while in the Cúllar area the sedimentation rate
was slower until after the Jaramillo subchron. The Cúllar
area experienced an accelerated sedimentation after the
Jaramillo and into the Brunhes, reaching equivalent rates
to those from the Early Pleistocene deposits of Orce. This
acceleration of sedimentation rate in the Cúllar area was a
long-term process interpreted as a product of the prograd-
ing paleo-lake Baza and its marginal valley floor (Figs. 14
and 15). Other processes, such as neo-tectonic uplift and
changing paleo-climates, were secondary variables to the
Cúllar section’s specific paleo-geographic location. How-
ever neo-tectonic activity, on both the regional and local
scale, was the dominant process at the Huéscar marginal
sites. Meanwhile, in the central facies of the paleo-Lake
Baza there was continuous sedimentation in which paleo-
climate was the primary triggering factor (Gibert L. et al.,
2001, 2007; Gibert L, 2006).
The chronology and biostratigraphy of the Baza Basin’s
Pleistocene fossil vertebrate sites starts in the Orce area,
with MN17 fauna (Fuentenueva-1 quarry) at 1.5 Ma,
25 m above the Olduvai normal zone. The paleontologi-
cal/archeological quarries of Venta Micena (1.3 Ma),
Barranco León (1.25 Ma) and Fuentenueva-3 (1.2 Ma)
provide an Early Pleistocene fauna 50 m above the
Olduvai normal zone (Scott et al., 2007). Then the fossil
sites below the Matuyama/Brunhes boundary in the
Huéscar area (Puerto Lobo, Loma Quemada and Hués-
car-1) provide a late Early Pleistocene fauna at 0.9 Ma.
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2086 L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089

Fig. 14. Age versus sediment accumulation. Sediment accumulation rates are compared between the Cúllar and Orce sections, based on magnetozone
boundaries. At the position of the Cúllar section, the aggrading valley floor environments (palustrine/lacustrine) arrived soon after the Jaramillo subchron,
which significantly increased the sediment accumulation rate. Projecting this rate to the upper strata, gives an approximate age of 600 Kya. Note that the
top of the Orce sections is an erosion surface, and that the uppermost strata are pre-Jaramillo in age (Scott et al., 2007). Therefore, this figure shows a
minimum accumulation rate for Orce, so that the associated fossil quarries might be slightly older than shown. In Cullar section, the reference
magnetozone boundaries are used as ‘hinge’ points for accumulation trends in a second refined curve (following McMillan and Stoner, 2005).

Fig. 15. Depositional model for Cúllar area. Schematic model which explain changes in sedimentation rate across the Cúllar margin during the Late
Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene. Neogene sedimentation starts slowly, with the onlapping alluvial fan at 2.1 Ma. A change to higher sedimentation rates,
owing to the aggrading valley floor, finally reaches the Cúllar section about 0.9 Ma as the paleo-Baza Basin continues to fill. This process of net
accumulation stops sometime after 0.6 Ma, and reverses into an erosional mode, that continues today.
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L. Gibert et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 26 (2007) 2067–2089
Then immediately above the Matuyama/Brunhes bound-
ary is the paleontological/archeological quarry at Cúllar
Baza-1 that provides an initial fauna from the Middle
Pleistocene at 0.75 Ma. And finally, the Cúllar Baza-C site
(Agustı́ et al., 1999), which is from post-Baza Formation
deposits, provides a new opportunity to examine fauna
from approximately the Middle/Late Pleistocene boundary
(0.1 Ma).
7. Conclusions
 A study of the lithostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy
and micro-mammal paleontology was made at two
sections in Quaternary deposits of the Baza Basin.
 Magnetostratigraphy of the Cúllar section (81 m) has
located both the Pliocene–Pleistocene boundary and the
Lower Pleistocene–Middle Pleistocene boundary. The
paleontological/archeological quarry Cúllar Baza-1 is
only 2 m above the Matuyama-Brunhes (Lower–Middle
Pleistocene) boundary. Six major polarity zones have
been identified in this section. The normal zones are
correlated to the Olduvai (C2n), Jaramillo C1r.1n), and
the early part of the Brunhes (C1n) chrons. The base of
Cúllar section is dated at 2.0 Ma.
 The top of both studied sections are some of the last
deposits before stream piracy captured the drainage of
the previously endorheic Baza Basin. Extrapolation of
sedimentation rates suggests an age for the top of the
Cúllar section at around 600 Kya. This indicates that the
opening of the Basin occurred during the Middle
Pleistocene, around 600 Kya.
 An age of 0.75 Ma can be given to the extensive Cúllar
Baza-1 fauna and lithic artifacts.
 Magnetostratigraphy of the Puerto Lobo sections
(31 m), 25 km to the north near Huéscar has also located
the Lower Pleistocene–Middle Pleistocene boundary.
Two polarity zones have been identified in this section
and are correlated to the latest Matuyama (C1r.1r) and
the initial part of the Brunhes (C1n) chrons.
 An age of 0.9 Ma can be given to the paleontological
sites of Huéscar-1 and Puerto Lobo.
 The change from the Biharian to the Toringian stages
can be approximated by the Matuyama/Brunhes polar-
ity change.
 Throughout the Pleistocene, local and regional neo-
tectonic activities have played important roles, along
with the changing climate, in influencing the distribution
of depositional facies and paleo-environments found
within the Baza Basin. However, paleo-geographic
location will determine when, and where these influences
are manifested as sedimentary deposits.
 The presence of early humans in the Baza Basin can be
found at 1.3–1.2 Ma in the Orce area (previous work), at
0.75 Ma in the Cúllar area, and again at 0.7 Ma in the
Huéscar area.
2087
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to the Paleontological Inst. Crusafont
and Dr. A. Ruiz-Bustos for facilitating the review of the
fossil material. We thank Dr. F. Tortosa for facilitating
detailed digital elevation maps of the area, L. Smeenk for
laboratory assistance and Dr. C. Ferràndez-Canyadell for
his useful comments which improved the manuscript. This
project was funded in part by the generous support of
Earthwatch Institute a National Science Foundation grant
(EAR-0207582) and project CGL2005-05337 BTE from the
Spanish Government.
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