Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument

Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument
Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Milodon cave.JPG
Mylodon's Cave
Location Magallanes Region, Chile
Coordinates 51°33′56″S 72°37′11″W / 51.56556°S 72.61972°W / -51.56556; -72.61972Coordinates: 51°33′56″S 72°37′11″W / 51.56556°S 72.61972°W / -51.56556; -72.61972
Governing body Corporación Nacional Forestal

Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument is a Natural Monument located in the Chilean Patagonia,[1] 24 km (15 mi) northwest of Puerto Natales and 270 km (168 mi) north of Punta Arenas. The monument is situated along the flanks of the Cerro Benitez Mountains.[2] It comprises several caves and a rock formation called Silla del Diablo (Devil's Chair).

The monument is notable for the discovery in 1896 of skin, bones and other parts of a giant ground sloth called Mylodon (Mylodon darwini).

At the entrance of the monument is a life size replica of the prehistoric Milodon, which was a very large herbivore, somewhat resembling a large bear. It became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene Epoch.

Contents

Milodon Remains

Investigations determined the survival of the Milodon until about 5,000 years ago and confirmed the existence of other animals, such as the "Dwarf Horse", the Smilodon and the Great Guanaco denominated "Macraucheria"[3]

Human Remains

Diverse elements of human habitation are found[4] at Cueva del Milodon including fire fractured rock, lithic tools and human remains. Human habitation at Cueva del Milodon is dated as early as 6000 BC.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ciudad de Puerto Natales: Cueva del Milodon
  2. ^ C. Michael Hogan, Cueva del Milodon, Megalithic Portal, 13 April 2008 [1]
  3. ^ Milodón's Cave in Letsgochile.com
  4. ^ [2]
  5. ^ Calvin J. Heusser (2003) ‘'Ice Age Southern Andes: A Chronicle of Paleoecological Events'‘, Elsevier, 240 pages ISBN:0444514783