The Gran Dolina site (Lower to Middle Pleistocene, Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain): new palaeoenvironmental data based on the distribution of small mammals

New palaeoenvironmental data are reported after analysing the distribution of micromammals (orders Rodentia, Insectivora, Chiroptera, and Lagomorpha) in the 11 stratigraphical levels at the Gran Dolina site (TD1–TD11, Early to Middle Pleistocene; Atapuerca, Spain). A continental, dry and cold climate is inferred at the beginning of the succession (TD3 to lower TD5). The fauna in the upper TD5 and in TD6 reflects a complex interglacial period with fluctuations in the degree of relative humidity. In the lower part of TD8, the presence of Microtus aff. ratticepoides indicates a relatively cold period. Finally, data from upper levels (TD8b, TD10, TD11) reflect another interglacial period with slight oscillations in relative moisture. The different levels at Gran Dolina are also correlated with oxygen isotope stages (OIS): TD3, TD4, and, TD5 may be correlated with OIS 22, TD6 is correlated with OIS 21, lower TD8 (TD8a) is correlated with OIS 18, upper TD8 (TD8b) is correlated with OIS 13 or 15, TD10 and TD11 are correlated with OIS 9 or 11.