June 10 Guided tour of the paleontological site of Cueva Victoria in Cartagena

Thousands of fossilized remains from the Ice Age have been found in Cueva Victoria and these may include the first hominids to have entered Europe from Africa

On Saturday June 10 there is a rare chance to enjoy a guided visit to the Cueva Victoria, a cave in Cartagena which has been found to contain the fossilized remains of vertebrates dating from the Lower Pleistocene (between 130,000 and 12,000 years ago).

Initially the site was excavated in order to extract manganese from the rock deposits, but it was then discovered that it houses thousands of fossilized remains, including those of the Theropitecus oswaldi species (a close relative of the modern baboon): this is the only known site in Europe where the species lived.

Other findings include a human finger bone, one of oldest discovered in Europe, and some have theorized that other bones provide the first evidence of hominids having crossed into Europe from Africa via the Strait of Gibraltar 1.2 million years ago!

The visits on June 10 are limited to two groups of no more than 20 people, who will be shown the area around the cave entrance nº 1. The group visits start at 11.30 and 12.30 and prior registration is required online here, starting on June 7. The rendezvous point is the car park next to the cave entrance (click for map).

Book early as there is likely to be great demand!!!

For more upcoming events in the Region of Murcia go to the What’s on section of Murcia Today.