Brazilian caves taphonomy: history and fossil collecting method for fossils preserved in carbonate soils
Os objetivos deste trabalho são: (i) apresentar uma revisão sobre os estudos tafonômicos desenvolvidos em cavernas brasileiras e (ii) descrever um método de coleta controlada de paleovertebrados preservados em solo carbonatado. Parte dos fósseis que ilustram este trabalho está depositada na oleção de Paleontologia do Museu de Ciências Naturais PUC Minas (MCN PUC Minas; sigla da coleção MCL) e na Coleção de Paleontologia do Museu de História Natural e Jardim Botânico UFMG (MHNJB-UFMG; sigla da coleção MHN).
Abstract: Among fossiliferous quaternary deposits, caves are foremost in interest, in relation to richness as well as diversity of fossils preserved therein. The goals of this study are: (i) to review taphonomic research involving paleovertebrates collected in Brazilian caves, and (ii) to propose a controlled collection method for fossils in carbonate soils. The studies about Brazilian paleovertebrate taphonomy in caves began in the XIX century. Until the 1990s, they were conducted in low priority, restricted to taxonomic and paleoenvironmental aspects. After the 1990s, taphonomic studies became more relevant. They were then applied in quaternary deposits in many Brazilian states and used innovative techniques, e.g., chemical analysis and absolute dating methods. Fossil collecting demonstrated satisfactory results in carbonate soils. This technique safely removes bones without causing damage, and spatially reconstructs their location in the substrate, allowing detailed taphonomic interpretations.