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ARCHIVED - August 7 Multi-activity morning at the Neanderthal dig site of Sima de las Palomas in Torre Pacheco
See how the Neanderthals lived on the emblematic mountain looking out over the Mar Menor
Torre Pacheco is home to the Sima de las Palomas archaeological site, located in the vast Cabezo Gordo, the striking lump of rock (marble) which rears up from the flat plains surrounding Torre Pacheco.
This special excavation has valuable pre-human remains which date back to the Neanderthal period, 40-60,000 years ago, but has also yielded remains dating back to the inter-glacial period of 120,000-130,000 years BC, which it is believed may belong to the Pre-Neanderthal forebears, the Homo Heidelbergensis. Over 150 individual fossilized human remains have been discovered, which belong to 8 or 9 individuals, and some extremely important remains have been discovered which belong to individuals who were buried beneath a rock fall whilst inside the caves.
There are also bones from lions, panthers, hippopotamus, hyenas, rhinos, horses, tortoises rabbits and birds, all of which lived in this area and many tools which would have been used by our distant ancestors in the course of their daily lives for hunting, fishing, and processing their prey.
The Cabezo Gordo itself is a mountain of marble, which towers above the plains and was mined extensively for both stone and minerals until 1917, and on Sunday August 7 the tourist office of Torre Pacheco is holding special open morning visits from 9.00 to 14.00.
60 people per hour will be admitted in two groups, allowing a total of 300 people during the morning (cost 3 euros, infants under 3 free of charge).
The route of the visit includes the Sima de las Palomas (with explanations offered by palaeontologists), a “Neanderthal Experience” in the Pie de Gigante cave and the Cueva del Agua (with a dramatized representation of how it was mined), and participants can also enter a photography competition being held on the day.
Bookings should be made here.
For more upcoming events visit the What’s On section of Murcia Today.
staff.inc.ali
Opening hours
Monday to Friday from 9am to 2pm
View Torre Pacheco in a larger map