Pleistocene Infilling of Guadeloupean Caves
Résumé
Calcareous islands of Guadeloupean Archipelago represents a well-developed karst. More than two hundred caves have been recorded. Depending on their genesis mode, theses caves are grouped into seven main types. Cavities of the same type share morphological features and have a common location in the landscape. This classification also helps determine the age of cave formation and the likelihood of ancient deposit to be preserved. Testing has been carried out in caves with the highest potential of containing preserved deposits. Old deposits have been found in four caves. The different lithofacies are presented, and their petrographic, mineralogical and paleontological content described. This characterization allows for the recognition of several kinds of deposits: storm deposits in littoral settings, organic stacks resulting form guano fossilization, and haloclastie-derived autochthonous sediments. Three caves located in Marie-Galante provided fossil vertebrate assemblages of Pleistocene age. A Taphonomic study conducted on bones indicates accumulation by birds of prey. The specific determination helps to establish a faunal list of Marie-Galante Pleistocene vertebrate biocenoses in the second part of Upper Pleistocene and at the beginning of the Holocene.
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