Spain2004

Neanderthal’s extinction is an archaeological topic that has generated great interest in recent years. Nowadays, there is an intense debate about whether it is possible to demonstrate the coexistence of Neanderthals and the “anatomically modern” Homo sapiens, and whether the two species ever interacted.

Archaeological evidence suggests that the Iberian Peninsula acted as a “refuge” for the retreating Neanderthal as they were being replaced by modern humans. Several archaeological sites in the Western Mediterranean show that Neanderthals lived there until around 30,000 BP.

La Roca dels Bous is a Middle Paleolithic site located in the Pyrenees (Catalonia, Spain) excavated by Rafael Mora, Jorge Martinez and Ignacio de la Torre at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and Centro de Estudios Historicos-CSIC. They believe that la Roca dels Bous can contribute to the understanding of the behavior of the last Neanderthals.

Despite the reduced dimensions of the excavated area, the structure of the site can be recognized. There have been recorded almost eleven living floors, some of which have not yet been excavated. It is characterized by several human occupations forming independent “living floors”. These units are recognized by the presence of hearths associated to bones and lithic artifacts.

Hearths are common to all archaeological levels. They tend to be simple, plain and elliptic shaped fires, which show no evidence of special arrangements during their construction. In the last years many hearths were discovered that may imply a complex behaviour linked with the use and management of the fire by Neanderthals, an essential issue related to their survival.

Participants will take part in different tasks related to the excavation, survey and laboratory work as an integrative part of archaeological training.

At the same time, la Roca dels Bous is located in an impressive ecological and historical landscape. The nearby towns and monuments offer numerous opportunities for sightseeing and for understanding the history of the region. Actually, these mountains were the border between the Christian kingdoms and the powerful Islamic kingdom known as the Qura of Balagui. Visits to these natural and historical key places are included in the program.

Photographs courtesy of Dr. J. Martinez

See also the Cova Gran Archaeological Project

General View of the site

Excavating La Roca

Middle Paleolithic artifacts

Excavation area

Dates:         To be advised for 2005

Volunteers :    Prior Field Experience is required
                       Minimum Age 18 years

Excludes:     Airfare to arrive in Barcelona (Spain).   Optional tours or local transportation not
                    known at time of booking.    All personal expenses including travel cancellation,
                    medical and any other insurances.

Notes : Space is limited and previous field experience is requiredd. Participants will be involved in a range of project tasks including archaeological excavation, field survey and laboratory work. The nature of the site does not call for strenuous digging, however, participants should be moderately fit, as hiking on rugged terrain would be needed. Temperatures in August are VERY high during the day with cool nights.

Nearby Balaguer is a small monumental town featuring an impressive castle and a ruined Islamic ciudadela (one of the most important of its kind in Catalonia). The city of Lleida is a 30 minute train ride from Balaguer and has a well preserved medieval quarter. Other easy excursions include the inner Pyreanic valleys which contain some the most beautiful Romanesque churches in Europe with XI and XII century frescos. Ordesa and Aigues Tortes National Parks are just three hours away.

Passport & Visa : Please contact the nearest Embassy of Spain representative or your travel agency for entry requirements