In the city of Burgos and in the Atapuerca Sites Congress Centre has recently been inaugurated a permanent exhibition of the famous sites, world heritage…

This exhibition, unique in the province of Burgos (except for the own sites), houses reproductions of the excavation scenario and the most important discoveries that have changed the history of
humanity.

In just one room is possible to have an idea of the whole Atapuerca site and to contemplate the most significant discoveries of human remains (Homo Antecesor), animals and tools from more than 1.000.000 years ago. They are accurate resin copies made by the research team of Atapuerca.

The Atapuerca meeting room, situated in the Atapuerca Sites Congress Centre, next to abba Burgos Hotel, can be visited. see atachment calendar.

Abba Hotels sponsors, since 2003, researches about the human origins that are developed in the sites of Atapuerca mountain range. As a founder company offers economical and organizing
support to the research program of the above-mentioned sites.

What is Atapuerca?

The Mountain range of Atapuerca is a small mountainous group located in the province of Burgos that has been declared site of cultural interest and World Heritage. It is located in the conjunction of Cantabrian and Iberian mountain ranges. It borders with Arlazon River at South, Vera River at North and Demanda mountain range at East with a top elevation of 1.100 metres over the sea level in the San Vicente summit.
At the end of the XIX century it was built a mining rail line from the Demanda mountain range to Burgos.

Their objective was to carry iron and coal to the Basque iron and steel industry. Thanks to this, some discoveries were made
that indicated the archaeological richness of the area. In the last quarter of the XX century some deep researches were made and placed this archaeological site as the most important of Europe and one of the most relevant in the world. In the Atapuerca site has been made some of the discoveries that have changed the recorded history of humanity.



The Sites

Atapuerca is made up of the following main sites: Sima del Elefante, Gran Dolina, Sima del Huesos, Galeria del Silex,
El Mirador, El Portalón, El Valle de las Orquídeas.

Some remains have been discovered since 1.200.000 years ago (Lower Pleistocene) until 200.000 years ago (Mid Pleistocene). Sites are exceptional because of their abundance, their maintenance and their scientific importance. All kind of tools have been discovered covering since the most primitive forms of carved stone until the Bronze Age.

Regarding the fauna, new specie of bear of the caves has been discovered, baptized as Ursus Dolinensis. The most
important discoveries are the human remains: the oldest ancestor in Europe, the Homo Ancestor, the last common
specie among Neanderthals, the Homo sapiens, and the Pre-Neanderthals, Homo Heidelbergensis.

More information at:
Official web of Atapuerca. http://www.atapuerca.org
Atapuerca history by the Universidad Complutense of Madrid. http://www.ucm.es/info/paleo/ata/portada.htm
Atapuerca in the UNESCO web (English). http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/989