The origin of Europe’s oldest human remains – 11/22/2023 – Science

Scientists have discovered that Europe’s first inhabitants settled in a remote location in Granada, Spain, approximately 1.4 million years ago.

The city of Orce is in the heart of the Granada Altiplano, in the south of Spain, has 1,300 inhabitants and is surrounded by vast terrain, deep gorges and reservoirs of crystal clear waters.

Few travelers venture to this remote corner of Andalusia, but those who do gain access to a fascinating side of Europe’s past.

Following the winding road 140 kilometers northeast of Granada, past the serrated ridges of the Sierra de Huétor park and the arid steppe plains of the Sierra de Baza park to Orce, we quickly arrive at this modest hilltop village.

The village holds a deep secret: it is believed to contain the remains of Europe’s first humans.

In fact, archaeological discoveries in this rural region not only reveal traces of where Europeans came from, but also how different the natural world was when humans first set foot on the continent.

‘Stones that look like bones’

In 1976, a local farmer named Tomás Serrano began finding what appeared to be fossils in his fields.

Recognizing the potential importance of his discoveries, he showed them to neighbors and family, explaining that he had found “stones that look like bones.”

When he contacted local authorities, they didn’t think much of his findings. But when three members of the Catalan Institute of Paleontology traveled to the site and examined Serrano’s findings, they confirmed that his hunch was correct: these were not just ordinary stones.

The Serrano property and its surroundings soon became an archaeological site, and when a team of experts descended near Orce in the following years, they discovered a continuing presence of fossilized remains of large mammals approximately 1.5 million to 1.6 million years old. .

This fossil layer formed in a freshwater lagoon environment near the ancient lake of Orce-Baza, where the bones were deposited and buried in the limestone mud that covered them.

Surprising discovery

In 2002, archaeologists made a surprising discovery in Barranco León, about 4 kilometers from Serrano’s farm.

There, buried on the western slope of the ravine, 14 meters below the surface, the team found the fossilized remains of a child’s tooth.

After extensive testing methods (including electron spin resonance, paleomagnetism and biochronology), experts confirmed that the molar is 1.4 million years old — the oldest fossil of the genus Homo on the continent.

The tooth, carefully excavated between layers of sediment, belongs to a boy who lived at a time when it is believed that humans were just beginning to make fire.

This small artifact contains within it the traces of a distant world: the toothy smile of a child frozen in time, in a time when our distant ancestors hunted and tried to avoid being hunted.

A very different Europe

One of the most fascinating aspects of the fossilized finds in the Orce region is that they not only reveal glimpses of humans’ distant past, but also of the ancient landscape of southern Europe.

Approximately 1.6 million years ago, an important lake known as Orce-Baza dominated parts of this region.

When it receded, fresh underground water took its place, carrying a wide variety of creatures that thrived here.

Mammoths, hyenas, saber-toothed tigers, hippos and deer coexisted in this ancient setting, along with the first hominids of the genus Homo in Europe.

According to Juan Manuel Jiménez Arenas, paleoanthropologist and director of the Orce Project, “the biodiversity of this place is only comparable to that found in the great African parks today. And looking at the almost deserted lands, it is difficult to imagine that hippos frolicked here and that large short-faced hyenas rested under holm oaks and oaks near freshwater ponds.”

‘The Silicon Valley of prehistory’

As excavations continued over the next few years, archaeologists made additional discoveries that surprised them: not only did they discover that Orce contained the oldest human remains in Europe, but also that the people who inhabited this area about 1.4 million years ago ago they appeared to have used highly innovative techniques in the manufacture of their stone tools, techniques that would not be repeated until 400,000 years later.

This has led experts to declare this place the “Silicon Valley of prehistoric times.”

At the heart of this discovery are spherical-shaped stone balls known as spheroids.

These intriguing limestone tools denote high cognitive abilities, knowledge of geometry, as well as physical characteristics of the raw materials used.

To create these hewn tools, early humans had to search for the appropriate raw material (fine-grained limestone) and carefully plan each blow with a hammer-like object.

Experts believe that the carvers from Barranco León had a preconceived idea of ​​the final product, very refined motor skills and a hierarchy in their carving gestures.

An authentic open-air museum

Thanks to its prehistoric importance and remarkable geological richness, the Orce region was recognized in 2020 as a World Geopark by UNESCO.

Additionally, the area is home to several museums dedicated to prehistory, including the Museum of the First Settlers of Europe in Orce.

Here, visitors can marvel at the innovative stone tools used by our ancestors and the impressive bones of mammoths.

Another notable site is Pedra do Letreiro in the nearby village of Huéscar, a famous cave containing elaborate paintings.

The deep red depictions of animals and figures date back more than 6,000 years, offering a fascinating glimpse into antiquity.

There are also several companies offering guided tours across the Granada plateau, from local archaeological museums to the mountains, allowing people to follow in the footsteps of Europe’s first inhabitants.

Especially on weekends, the surrounding wastelands and rugged limestone mountains attract numerous cyclists and hikers eager to explore this hidden corner of Spain.

Even in winter, when the biting wind and low temperatures begin, enthusiasts brave the elements, anticipating the arrival of the always welcome snow.

Modern houses

Eight kilometers west of Orce, the town of Galera appears as a fascinating testament to the past.

Here, thousands of cave houses, carved into the bedrock and hills, whisper stories of times gone by. These houses, of troglodyte and prehistoric origin, are believed to date back to Arab times (beginning in 711 AD).

Today, these caves not only serve as contemporary residences, but also represent a living connection to the Altiplano region’s enduring history, weaving a continuous thread from antiquity to modern times.

For adventurous travelers, these caves provide an immersive cultural and lodging experience.

With panoramic views and carefully decorated interiors, each cave house tells a story of resilience and adaptation.

In addition to their archaeological importance, the region’s small towns delight visitors with their numerous cobblestone streets, quaint cafes and local markets, offering a taste of traditional Spanish culture.

This is also one of the best places to taste the famous lamb hold on from the region, a local sheep related to the shepherds of this area.

The remains of the first inhabitants of Europe

From the Iberians to the Romans and Muslims, wave after wave of different peoples and cultures have finally followed in the footsteps of these first humans here.

Each of them found a home in this rugged landscape and, at the same time, left their mark on it.

One way to understand and experience this layered history firsthand is to embark on the Great Path of the First European Settlers: a 143km itinerary that allows travelers to travel it by car, bike or on foot. The route passes through the towns of Huéscar, Castril, Castilléjar, Galera, Orce and La Puebla de Don Fadrique.

The imposing La Sagra mountain (2,383 m) dominates the horizon along the way, and the journey itself is a scenic adventure through traditional Andalusian countryside.

Whether on two wheels, four wheels or on foot, this is a region that deserves to be absorbed slowly, allowing spontaneous detours to centuries-old villages to discover hidden treasures along the way, many of which are still being unearthed.