A new article featured on the cover of the journal Ichnos highlights a remarkable discovery: a set of 16 footprints, left by cave bears during the Late Pleistocene, in the Honseca Cave located near Velilla del Río Carrión, Palencia, in northern Spain. These footprints, which have captivated the scientific community, are considered an important paleontological finding. Their analysis provides new insights into the behavior of cave bears and the way these creatures interacted with their environment during the Ice Age. The study was conducted by scientists from the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH)—including Jesús Rodríguez, Alfonso Benito, Adrián Martínez, and Ana Mateos—and marks a significant step forward in the study of fossilized animal tracks.
Discovery of the Footprints
The discovery of these footprints dates back to their identification by the members of the Velilla del Río Carrión Speleological Association. These speleologists had been exploring the Honseca Cave when they stumbled upon the set of fossilized tracks, which were subsequently recorded and reported to the authorities. Recognizing the potential importance of this find, they collaborated with CENIEH researchers, offering crucial logistical support that enabled a systematic study of the tracks.
This set of tracks consists of footprints from both the front and hind limbs of cave bears—specifically, impressions of their paws in the clay-like sediment. The footprints, which have been preserved remarkably well, represent a significant opportunity to study the biology and behavior of these ancient animals. Most of these fossils belong to the type of cave bear, a species now extinct but once widespread across Europe during the Pleistocene.
The Study Approach: 3D Analysis of the Footprints
In order to analyze the footprints effectively, the research team used innovative techniques to create a three-dimensional model of the tracks. These digital methods provided an unprecedented level of precision and helped preserve the integrity of the fossils during study. This digital reconstruction was achieved by combining laser scanning and photogrammetry, two advanced methods conducted in CENIEH’s Digital Mapping and 3D Analysis Laboratory.
According to Martínez, a technician at the laboratory, the process began by using a laser scanner to create a 3D point cloud—a digital representation of the cave surface. This scanning technology allowed the team to capture millions of data points to create an incredibly detailed model of the footprints and surrounding sediment. Photogrammetry, on the other hand, involved taking high-resolution photographs of the footprints, and software was then used to convert these images into a detailed three-dimensional model.
The digital model enabled the team to take precise measurements of the footprints and allowed for comparison with footprints discovered in other caves, such as the famous Urşilor Cave in Romania, which also features similar fossil tracks from cave bears. “This combination of techniques has proved invaluable,” says Benito. “It gave us not only accurate measurements of the tracks but also generated a set of images showing the individual features of each footprint, which would have been difficult to identify with the naked eye in the field.”
The Ichnotaxon: Ursichnus europaeus
Fossilized footprints are not assigned a name based on the species of animal believed to have made them, but rather are categorized according to their shape and characteristics in a taxonomical system known as ichnology. The footprints discovered in Honseca Cave have been assigned the ichnotaxon name Ursichnus europaeus—the same designation given to tracks discovered in Urşilor Cave.
The name Ursichnus comes from the Latin words “ursus” (meaning bear) and the Greek word “ichnos” (meaning footprint). While the tracks at Urşilor and Honseca may be of slightly different ages, the resemblance of their forms supports their classification under the same ichnotaxon. The main distinguishing features of these footprints include their toe impressions and the length of the claw marks, which are indicative of cave bears rather than other species, like the modern-day brown bear. These cave bears, known scientifically as Ursus spelaeus, lived throughout the Pleistocene and became extinct approximately 28,000 years ago.
Interestingly, the footprints in the Honseca Cave have helped validate much of what scientists have theorized about cave bear behavior. By examining the footprints’ structure and patterns, the research team has gained insights into how these large bears moved, how they distributed their weight, and how their locomotion may have differed from other bear species.
Conservation Concerns and Footprint Preservation
While this new discovery has advanced our understanding of prehistoric life, the research team also notes the unfortunate damage caused to the site in earlier years. Several of the footprints were destroyed due to careless visitors walking through the cave prior to scientific investigation. These footprints were damaged beyond recovery, making their preservation an urgent concern for the future of such sites.
Rodríguez, the lead author of the study, highlights the importance of protecting fossil sites like Honseca Cave. “Our work not only aims to study these unique traces, but also to raise awareness about their significance. We hope to help promote efforts to protect the site, so future generations can have the same opportunities for research,” he said. His statement underscores the need for greater awareness of the vulnerability of these ancient fossils and the risks posed by unregulated cave tourism or amateur exploration.
The researchers plan to use the 3D model for ongoing preservation efforts, making it easier to both study and monitor the footprint set in its original location without needing to disturb the fragile environment. This technology can also serve as a resource for future efforts to repair or mitigate damage to similar sites.
Bear Tracks in European Caves: A Widespread Phenomenon
Bear tracks in caves are not unique to Honseca. The Iberian Peninsula is home to numerous cave systems where fossilized bear tracks have been discovered. These sites are often found in soft sediments, which help to preserve the intricate details of these ancient footprints. While cave bear footprints are not uncommon in these caves, systematic research on these tracks has historically been rare.
Previously, the most famous site for studying fossilized bear tracks was Urşilor Cave in Romania. Located in the Apuseni Mountains, this cave contains a large number of cave bear remains, including several sets of footprints. The careful studies of these tracks in Urşilor Cave helped lay the groundwork for the research on Honseca Cave. Despite the similarities between the tracks in both caves, each site offers valuable, unique insights into the behavior of cave bears in different regions of Europe during the Late Pleistocene.
Although the study of bear footprints is still in its early stages, it is clear that such fossil traces offer key insights into how these ancient animals navigated their environments. The analysis of such footprints contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of Pleistocene megafauna behavior, revealing the physical characteristics of extinct animals and their interactions with the environment, which remains invaluable to paleontologists studying species’ habits and lifestyles.
Conclusion
This new study, based on the footprints found in the Honseca Cave, contributes significantly to the growing body of knowledge surrounding the behaviors and biology of cave bears. By combining advanced 3D scanning and photogrammetry, the researchers have created a high-precision model that provides new insights into the movements and physical traits of these long-extinct animals.
As we learn more about these ancient species, it is equally important to recognize the need to protect and conserve fossil sites. These findings remind us of the fragility of our natural history and the efforts required to preserve the stories of the past for future generations. The footprints at Honseca, alongside other discoveries across Europe, stand as an enduring reminder of the deep connection between humans and the prehistoric world that shaped life on Earth.
Reference: J. Rodríguez et al, Cave bear tracks ( Ursichnus europaeus Diedrich, 2011) from Honseca Cave, Palencia, Spain, Ichnos (2025). DOI: 10.1080/10420940.2024.2446153