A middle pleistocene vertebrate fossil assemblage from cathedral cave, Naracoorte, South Australia

Located in the Naracoorte Caves Conservation Park. Cathedral Cave represent s one of the more fossil-rich vertebrate sires within the region. An analys is of the geology and palaeontology of the fossil assemblage, coupled with U-series dating, has enabled a reconstruction of both the accumulation mode s and the proximal environment between about 280,000 and 160,000 years ago, during the Middle Pleistocene. A pitfall trap is suggested as the primary mechanism for collecting animals whose remains became incorporated in the d eposit. The fauna indicates an environment dominated by large herbivores in habiting a grassy open forest or woodland with little suggestion of aridity .