Template:POTD/2009-05-10
Archaeological and paleontological excavations at the site of Gran Dolina, in the Atapuerca Mountains of Spain, where fossils and stone tools of the earliest known hominians in Western Europe have been found. Two archaeological levels are visible in this shot: The first one is TD-10, and it is believed to be a Homo heidelbergensis camp, about 300,000 years old. The second is TD-6, located under the scaffolding (bottom centre). The first remains of the new species mentioned by the Atapuerca team, Homo antecessor, were found there, about 800,000 years old.Photo credit: Mario Modesto Mata