Portal de Caravaca de la Cruz
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The latest excavations carried out at the site of the Black Cave, situated in the hamlet of La Encarnación caravaqueña, has resulted in the discovery of traces of fire in a very deep layer, within five meters of sediment accumulation of the Pleistocene Old.
"This is the earliest presence of fire found in Paleolithic Europeans," as stated by the Director General of Cultural Assets, Francisco Giménez, during the balance of the campaign, which was accompanied by the mayor of Caravaca, Domingo Aranda, and professor and director of the excavation Michel Walker.
The excavation campaign was carried out this July, led by Professor Walker, supported by the Directorate General for Cultural Property and the city of Caravaca de la Cruz.
During the meeting, besides the mentioned traces of fire have been found valuable Palaeolithic remains, like a hand ax and Acheulean bifacial of several chert flakes sharp carving.
Also recovered numerous remains of animals that were the basis of subsistence hunters and gatherers who inhabited the cave, from large mammals like rhinos to other smaller, such as macaques, water voles, birds and turtles.
"Some offer items found cut marks made by humans and fire signals, which are clear evidence of the exploitation of biodiversity preterit by man. In turn, the discovery of several species of extinct animals and highlights the great antiquity of the site "said Walker.
Sunday Aranda wanted to thank each summer's work develop Professor Walker and his team, which has allowed "archaeologists and researchers from prestigious have visited in recent years the Cueva Negra, making this spot a benchmark caravaqueño international study of human evolution. "
The various research in the last 20 years confirm that the site of the Cueva Negra has between 900,000 and 800,000 years old.
Paleolithic remains have been found abundant fossils of animals and human teeth of Homo heidelbergensis, which lived in Europe during the Pleistocene.
All levels excavated in the sediment that reaches five feet deep, provide evidence of human presence or activity continuously, without interruption.
Source: Ayuntamiento de Caravaca de la Cruz
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