Sierra de Atapuerca!

scruffy1 · Jun 20, 2014

You have seen the sign:

but have you visited the site?
428,000 years before Saint James, this place was inhabited by so called Neanderthal man, many material and human remains have been found in the Sierra de Atapuerca and there is a fascinating visitors site at Atapuerca, just before Burgos. Archeologists have recently discovered a previously unknown burial site, 14 different examples so there should be a lot of action there. The visitors center is just off Camino no big detour or delay and should you be interested in Spanish pre-history ( another interest of mine) this is the place to stop. For more on the area see here, in Spanish but do try:

codecables · Jun 20, 2014

It's absolutely worth a stop! I concur.

annakappa · Jun 20, 2014

We visited the site a few years ago. You book your tour at the Visitors Centre in Atapuerca and are taken by bus to the site (about a 20 minute bus ride). They picked up some people in Ages too, so I guess that these Pilgrims were able to book through one of the Alberges there. The tour is fascinating, takes more than an hour. If I remember there are no tours on Mondays. Anne

mspath · Jun 20, 2014

Generally the visit to Atapuerta is made via the Museo de la Evolucion Humana in Burgos. Read more here.

Olivares · Jun 20, 2014

I visited the Museum in Burgos. I even got the credential stamped there! The museum was great, very details exhibits on the excavations.

Healing Pilgrim · Jun 20, 2014

I never made it to that museum, but I seem to recall that it's on the same stretch of road where two older women come down from their village, meet pilgrims at an intersection, handing out candies and hugs?!

obinjatoo · Jun 21, 2014

I might have to take that in this time around. I was aware of the site and museum but just didn't get there. I am fascinated by primitive peoples.
Thanks for the reminder.

nidarosa · Jun 21, 2014

I went to the visitors centre with high hopes in 2012 and it had nothing whatsoever to offer - tour bus had left, staff was not helpful, there was an exhibition of local artists' watercolours of birds, a map, and if memory serves the guided site tours were only in Spanish? Glad to hear more is available now, I was looking forward to it and was gutted when I got there. Didn't have time to see the museum in Burgos either. Oh well, next time!

whariwharangi · Jun 21, 2014

The museum is well worth the time spent. Its much more interesting than the baroque art at the Cathedral and there is heating.

Margaret Butterworth · Jun 21, 2014

There is a lovely new private albergue in the main street of the small town of Atapuerca, with single rooms as well as dorms. (Albergue el Peregrino). A bus leaves every day (I think) at 4.40 p.m. From the town centre to the sites. We had an excellent Spanish guide, who could also speak English, and she had worked on the digs in summer. This town is a better stop than up at San Juan de Ortega, which can be v. cold. You cannot visit the sites unless on a guided tour, because they are spread out around the area.

The museum of Human Evolution in Burgos is also worth a visit, and runs whole day trips back to the sites of Atapuerca. But why go back, when you have already walked through? Also, I was disappointed at the museum to find not one single publication in English in the extensive bookshop on the top floor.

whariwharangi · Jun 21, 2014

Margaret Butterworth said:
There is a lovely new private albergue in the main street of the small town of Atapuerca, with single rooms as well as dorms. (Albergue el Peregrino). A bus leaves every day (I think) at 4.40 p.m. From the town centre to the sites. We had an excellent Spanish guide, who could also speak English, and she had worked on the digs in summer. This town is a better stop than up at San Juan de Ortega, which can be v. cold. You cannot visit the sites unless on a guided tour, because they are spread out around the area.

The museum of Human Evolution in Burgos is also worth a visit, and runs whole day trips back to the sites of Atapuerca. But why go back, when you have already walked through? Also, I was disappointed at the museum to find not one single publication in English in the extensive bookshop on the top floor.

Where I live ... Spanish publications are not to be found ... never mind museums. Even publications in French, the other official language here is rarely found. On that score I have no expectations of finding English in countries where the official language is not English. I am simply amazed to find that ATMs operate in English in Spain, Chile, Argentina, and Mexico.

nidarosa · Jun 21, 2014

When it concerns a site of world-wide historical interest I would actually expect there to be more material available in a few widely known languages (and by no means only European ones), something which would no doubt also make them more money in the long run. In the meantime it might be a good idea, if you plan to visit the site and do not speak or read Spanish, to read up on it before you go - it will make your visit more enjoyable and the anticipation more fun!