Located in the center of Granada’s upper plateau in southern Spain, the town of Orce, with a population of 1,300, is surrounded by a tapestry of arid lands, deep canyons, and crystal clear water reservoirs that stretch as far as the eye can see. Few travelers venture to this remote corner of Andalusia, but those who do get a glimpse of Europe’s past.
If you take the winding road 140 km northeast of Granada, past the rugged ridges of the Sierra de Huétor Park and the arid steppe plains of the Sierra de Baza Park to Orce, you will soon realize that this modest hilltop village is home to a unique landscape. Secret: These are believed to be the remains of the continent’s first humans. In fact, archaeological discoveries in this rural domain reveal not only an idea of where Europeans arrived, but also how the plant world was when humans first set foot on the continent.
In 1976, a local farmer named Tomás Serrano began stumbling upon what looked like fossilized remains in his fields. Aware of the potential significance of his finds, he showed them to his neighbors and relatives, explaining that he had discovered “stones that look like bones. “When he contacted local authorities, they didn’t think much of his findings. But when 3 members of the Catalan Institute of Paleontology traveled to the domain and tested Serrano’s findings, they proved that his depression was correct: Those weren’t stones.
The Serrano estate and its landscape have temporarily become an active archaeological site, and when a team of experts descended near Orce in the next few years, they discovered a continuous presence of fossilized remains of giant mammals dating to between 1. 5 and 1 . 6 million years. This fossil layer was formed in a freshwater pond environment, close to the ancient lake of Orce-Baza, where the bones were deposited and buried in the limestone dust that covered them.
(Susana Girón)
An unexpected discovery While archaeologists continued their excavations in the area, they made an unexpected discovery in 2002 in the Barranco León, located about 4 kilometers from the Serrano farm. There, buried on the western slope of a ravine 14 meters below the surface, the team found the fossilized remains of a child’s tooth. After extensive testing strategies (including electron spin resonance, paleomagnetism, and biochronology), experts showed that the molar dates back 1. 4 million years, making it the oldest Homo genus in the world. continent.
The tooth, painstakingly extracted from 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 carries within it lines from a remote world: the toothy smile of a child frozen in time, from a time when our remote ancestors hunted their prey while seeking to be hunted.
(Susana Girón)
One of the most desirable aspects of the fossilized finds from the Orce region is that they reveal only a glimpse into humanity’s remote past, but also into the ancient landscape of southern Europe. About 1. 6 million years ago, a giant lake known as Orce-Baza ruled parts of this region. When it receded, new groundwater took its place, allowing a wide diversity of creatures to thrive here. Mammoths, hyenas, saber-toothed tigers, hippos, and deer coexisted in this ancient landscape, alongside the first European hominids of the genus Homo.
According to Juan Manuel Jiménez Arenas, paleoanthropologist and director of the ORCE project, “the biodiversity of this site is only comparable to that discovered in today’s gigantic African parks. And hunting in those near-desert lands, it’s hard to believe that hippos frolicking here and short-faced giant hyenas resting under olive and wild oaks near freshwater ponds.
(Susana Girón)
“The Silicon Valley of Prehistory” As excavations continued over the next few years, archaeologists discovered other discoveries that surprised them: Orce was home to not only the oldest human remains in Europe, but also those of other people who inhabited this domain approximately 1. 4 million years ago. They appear to have used state-of-the-art techniques to manufacture their stone equipment that would not be used for another 400,000 years, leading experts to claim that this site was “the Silicon Valley of prehistory. “
At the center of this discovery are round stone balls called spheroids. These fascinating limestone pieces of equipment denote wonderful cognitive abilities, wisdom of geometry, and the physical characteristics of the raw materials used. To make these carved objects, early humans had to look for the right rough drapery (fine-grained limestone) and diligently plan each of their strokes with a hammer-like object. Experts say that the sculptors of Barranco León had a preconceived idea of the final product, a very fine motor skills and a hierarchy of sculptural gestures.
(Susana Girón)
A real open-air museumThanks to its prehistoric importance and its remarkable geological richness, the territory of Orce was identified in 2020 as a Global Geopark by UNESCO. In addition, the region has several museums committed to prehistory, including the Museum of the First Settlers of Europe in Orce. Here, visitors can marvel at the state-of-the-art stone equipment used by our ancestors and the impressive mammoth bones. Another notable site is the Piedra del Letrero, in the nearby village of Huéscar, a famous cave containing elaborate paintings. Depictions of animals and other people in bright red date back more than 6,000 years, providing valuable insight into antiquity.
There are also several companies that offer guided tours of the Granada Highlands, from the local archaeological museums to the mountains, allowing others to follow in the footsteps of Europe’s first inhabitants. Especially on weekends, the surrounding badlands and rugged limestone mountains attract attention. There are plenty of 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, heralding the arrival of the ever-welcome snow.
(Susana Girón)
Modern cave houses Eight kilometers west of Orce, the town of Galera is a captivating testimony to the past. Here, thousands of cave houses, carved into the rock and hills, whisper stories of a bygone era. These houses, of troglodyte and prehistoric origin, are believed to date back to the Arab era (from 711 AD). Today, those caves serve only as new dwellings, but they also provide a living link to the enduring history of the Highland region, weaving a continuous thread from antiquity to fashion. times.
For adventurous travelers, those caves provide immersive accommodations and a cultural experience. With panoramic perspectives and manicured interiors, the cave space tells a story of resilience and adaptation. Beyond their archaeological significance, the domain’s small villages enchant visitors with their many cobblestone streets. , vintage cafes, and local markets provide a taste of classic Spanish culture. It is also one of the most productive places to savor the region’s famous segureño lamb, a local sheep similar to the shepherds of this region.
(Susana Girón)
From the Iberians to the Romans to the Muslims, wave upon wave of other peoples and cultures eventually followed those early humans here. Each of them discovered their position in this rugged landscape and left their mark. One way to perceive and delight in this multi-layered history is to embark on the Great Path of the First European Settlers: a 143 km route that allows you to travel it by car, motorbike or on foot.
The direction passes through the towns of Huéscar, Castril, Castillejar, Galera, Orce and La Puebla de Don Fadrique. The imposing mountain of La Sagra (2,383 m) dominates the horizon of the trail and the adventure itself is a scenic adventure through classic Andalusian countryside. Whether on two or four wheels or on foot, it is a region that must be discovered slowly, allowing spontaneous detours to centuries-old villages to discover hidden treasures along the way, many of which are still being discovered.
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