Author/Authors :
Mayoral Alfaro, Eduardo Department of Earth Sciences - University of Huelva - Av. Fuerzas Armadas, Spain , Liñán, Eladio Department of Earth Sciences -IUCA University of Zaragoza, Spain , Gámez Vintaned, José Antonio Department of Geosciences - Faculty of Sciences & Information Technology - Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) - Bandar Seri Iskandar (Perak), Malaysia , Gozalo, Rodolfo Department of Botany and Geology - University of València, Burjassot, Spain , Dies Álvarez, María Eugenia Department of Specific Didactics-IUCA - University of Zaragoza, Spain , Santos, Ana Department of Specific Didactics-IUCA - University of Zaragoza, Spain , Collantes, Luis Centro de Geociências - Universidade de Coimbra - Rua Sílvio Lima, Portugal , Gil Toja, Alberto Natural Park Sierra Norte de Sevilla – UNESCO Global Geopark, Spain
Abstract :
Early Cambrian fossils sites of two Natural Monuments of the Sierra Norte de Sevilla Geopark are highlighted. The first of these shows archaeocyath and stromatolite bioconstructions at the Cerro del Hierro site, one of the most complete and best exposed in the European Cambrian record. The other exceptional setting is the Constantina site, which preserves about 90 discoid structures, which have been interpreted as ancient jellyfish. This site is one of the oldest and best-preserved soft-bodied biotas in the Cambrian record worldwide. Cerro del Hierro also has industrial heritage through its important mining history, which, together with its paleontological value, provides a series of routes that have made it the most visited tourist and educational site in the Geopark. Although the Constantine site is not yet ready to receive visitors, both sites have been proposed as International Geosites and therefore enjoy the maximum Spanish legal protection.
Keywords :
Jellyfish , Stromatolite , Archaeocyath , Corduban , Ovetian
