How Many Human Species Have Inhabited 'Spain'?

The Iberian Peninsula has some of the most interesting sites in Europe for studying human evolution.

Source: Muy Interesante

 

Five human species have passed through the Iberian Peninsula, leaving their traces in different locations, with Atapuerca containing remains from all of them. From the oldest to the most recent, fossils and other material traces have been found from Homo sp., an unclassified species, Homo
antecessor, Homo heidelbergensis (also known as pre-Neanderthal), Homo neanderthalensis, and finally, our species, Homo sapiens.

 

 
Caption: This is the oldest human fossil found in Spain and Europe. Fragments of the face of a hominin found at Sima del Elefante. María Dolors Guillén / Atapuerca Foundation

 
The Oldest Human Found in Spain
 
Exploring the rich and intricate human evolution in the Iberian Peninsula immerses us in a fascinating journey through time, a tale woven with the bones and tools uncovered in various archaeological sites, among which Atapuerca stands out. From the dawn of the Lower Pleistocene to the arrival of Homo sapiens, each layer of human history in this region is revealed as an intriguing and complex chapter, written by nature and unravelled by archaeologists and palaeontologists who have spent years
uncovering the secrets of the Sierra de Atapuerca.
 
Imagine, for a moment, the time travel journey that takes us back 1.4 million years to the cave of Sima del Elefante, where the face of the "first European", Homo sp., emerges. This exceptional discovery not only allows us to glimpse the features of our ancient ancestors but also raises fascinating questions about the evolution of modern facial features. In July 2022, this new fossil was presented as a milestone in the history of palaeoanthropology. Excavations in the TE7 level of the Sima del Elefante
site surprised us with an exceptional find. It is a partial face of a human being aged 1.4 million years. This discovery not only adds a new piece to the puzzle but also strengthens Atapuerca's position as one of the most important archaeological sites in the world for studying human evolution.
 

From Homo antecessor to heidelbergensis
 
The pieces of this evolutionary puzzle connect across the Peninsula, from Homo antecessor in Gran Dolina to Homo heidelbergensis, pre- Neanderthals who hunted, gathered, and, according to some studies, already cared for their sick. Homo antecessor, whose traces have only been found in Atapuerca to date, is dated between 800,000 and 840,000 years ago. On the other hand, the pre-Neanderthals are the link between H. antecessor and the Neanderthals, a species that reveals the
complexity of human history in the Iberian Peninsula. Their bones tell stories of nomads who gathered in small groups, made stone tools, and hunted together. A tale of survival, adaptation, and evolution.
 

From Neanderthals to Sapiens
 
The Neanderthals, at their peak, left their mark across the entire Peninsula, from Sidrón in Asturias to Sima de las Palomas in the Region of Murcia and further south. Their history reveals surprising connections: hybridisation with Homo sapiens and evidence of symbolic thinking, such as the engravings in Gorham's Cave in Gibraltar. The complexity of their ideological world is revealed in line engravings on rock, the first signs of cave art made by Neanderthals. They went extinct around 30,000 years ago, and the Iberian Peninsula was one of the last refuges of this native European species.
 
Caption: The bisons of Altamira. acongar / Wikimedia
 
Cover photo: Skull of the Gran Dolina Child. Jerónimo Roure Pérez

 

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