The documentary transports viewers to the area known as The Valley of the Neanderthals, specifically to the Pinilla del Valle sites. This exceptional location in the Lozoya Valley has significantly advanced our understanding of this human species. Excavations at the Calvero de la Higuera have unearthed human remains and lithic tools, confirming the presence of Neanderthals in the Madrid region tens of thousands of years ago.
Following the screening, a discussion will feature the excavation's co-directors, Enrique Baquedano and Juan Luis Arsuaga, along with the documentary's directors, Javier Trueba and Gabriela Villecco. They will share the scientific and human challenges of the research with the audience and answer attendees' questions.
Through archival footage from the excavations, interviews with researchers, and recreations of daily life in the Pleistocene, the audiovisual work details the lives of Neanderthal populations in the Lozoya Valley, exploring their cultural and cognitive abilities.
Discoveries at Pinilla del Valle include human remains dating back approximately 44,000 years, an infant burial associated with a hearth, and a unique accumulation of large herbivore skulls in a cave. These findings suggest intentional and symbolic behaviors, challenging the traditional view of Neanderthals as intellectually limited beings. The publication of these findings in the scientific journal Human Nature Behavior underscores their international significance.
Pinilla del Valle, located in the Sierra de Guadarrama, about 80 kilometers from Madrid, hosts one of the most important Neanderthal sites in the Iberian Peninsula. Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 2005, this enclave has provided crucial information about the landscape, fauna, and human presence in the region for over 300,000 years.
The event, organized by the Archaeological and Paleontological Museum of the Community of Madrid (MARPA), will take place in the Manuel Fernández-Miranda Seminar Room. Admission is free until full capacity.
