Palaeontological and zooarchaeological deposits have been recovered from underwater caves across the globe, but studies on site formation processes in these environments are scattered and have never been systematically examined. Flooded caves in the phreatic zone of karst systems include sinkholes and fensters (windows) that form a connection between the sub-aerial and sub-terranean landscapes, and conduits and chambers that establish underground networks of tunnels. Burial environments in these spaces are variable, and sedimentary, cave morphologic, and hydrologic variability within a single site can have profound impacts on taphonomic processes. The key determinant on long term preservation in these spaces is, however, the presence of water which dictates the nature of any habitation and by which species, and the process of decay. Water tables can fluctuate with long- and short-term sea level changes, with concomitant shifts in burial environments between flooded ‘wet’ or exposed ‘dry’ settings in near-shore cave systems. Distinguishing wet and dry burial conditions is necessary to reconstruct site formation processes in caves exhibiting evidence of changing or cyclical phreatic and vadose conditions. Signatures of aquatic deposition have been identified in underwater sites under marine, lacustrine and fluvial settings, but similar investigations are lacking for submerged cave landscapes. Water influences the decay process, alters bone surfaces, and modifies internal physical and chemical properties of bones. By exploring the environmental properties of flooded caves alongside known aquatic modifications, this review aims to build a framework for taphonomy of underwater cave palaeontological and archaeological sites. We detail biostratinomic and diagenesis processes that can be explored by actualistic, experimental, and observational studies. Future consideration could be given to the effects of human actions on the spatial distribution and modifications of bones in these spaces and the combined effects of environmental and anthropic agents.

中文翻译：

---

水下洞穴中的遗址形成过程和脊椎动物遗骸的埋藏学


世界各地的水下洞穴中都发现了古生物学和动物考古沉积物，但对这些环境中遗址形成过程的研究却很分散，而且从未得到过系统的研究。喀斯特系统潜水区的水淹洞穴包括形成地下和地下景观之间连接的天坑和栅栏（窗户），以及建立地下隧道网络的管道和洞室。这些空间的埋藏环境是多变的，单个地点内的沉积、洞穴形态和水文变化会对埋藏过程产生深远的影响。然而，这些空间长期保存的关键决定因素是水的存在，它决定了任何居住地的性质、物种以及腐烂的过程。地下水位可能会随着长期和短期海平面变化而波动，同时近岸洞穴系统中埋藏环境也会在被淹没的“潮湿”环境或暴露的“干燥”环境之间发生变化。区分潮湿和干燥的埋藏条件对于重建洞穴中的遗址形成过程是必要的，这些过程显示了变化或周期性潜水和渗流条件的证据。在海洋、湖泊和河流环境下的水下地点已经发现了水生沉积的特征，但对水下洞穴景观缺乏类似的调查。水会影响腐烂过程，改变骨骼表面，并改变骨骼的内部物理和化学特性。通过探索被淹没的洞穴的环境特性以及已知的水生变化，本综述旨在建立一个水下洞穴古生物和考古遗址埋藏学框架。 我们详细介绍了可以通过现实、实验和观察研究来探索的生物地层学和成岩作用过程。未来可以考虑人类行为对这些空间中骨骼的空间分布和改变的影响，以及环境和人为因素的综合影响。