Atapuerca, Province of Burgos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Atapuerca
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Municipality and town
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View of Atapuerca, 2009
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Municipal location of Atapuerca in Burgos province
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| Country | Spain | ||
| Autonomous community | Castile and León | ||
| Province | Burgos | ||
| Comarca | Alfoz de Burgos | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 24.75 km2 (9.56 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 953 m (3,127 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 172 | ||
| • Density | 6.949/km2 (18.00/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
09199
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Atapuerca is a small town and municipality located in the province of Burgos, in the region of Castile and León, Spain. It is most famous for its incredible prehistoric archaeological sites. These sites are super important because they help scientists learn about the very first humans who lived in Europe!
The municipality of Atapuerca includes two villages: Atapuerca (which is the main town) and Olmos de Atapuerca. The main village is also home to an Experimental Archaeology Centre (CAREX). This is a special place where archaeologists can test out old tools and methods. Atapuerca also hosts a big annual cross country running event called the Cross de Atapuerca. More than 2,000 runners come to compete each year!
Atapuerca is also part of the French Way (known as Camino Francés) of the famous Camino de Santiago. This is a very old pilgrimage route that many people walk each year.
Contents
Discovering Atapuerca's Past
A Look Back in Time
The area around Atapuerca has a long and interesting history. Just outside the town, there's a place called the massif. This was the location of the Battle of Atapuerca in the year 1054. This battle was an important event in the history of the region.
Unearthing Ancient Secrets
A big discovery happened in 1899 when people were building a railway. As they dug, they found several very important archaeological sites in Atapuerca. The railway itself didn't last long and closed down later. However, the discoveries made during its construction changed everything.
A World Heritage Site
Because of its unique and valuable archaeological finds, Atapuerca was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on November 30, 2000. This means it's recognized as a place of great importance to all of humanity. Atapuerca is special because it lets archaeologists study how the first human beings developed and lived on the European continent over a very long time. It's like a giant timeline of human evolution!
Atapuerca's Economy
How the Town Makes a Living
Like many places in its region, Atapuerca traditionally relied on dryland farming. This means growing crops that don't need a lot of water. However, the discovery of the archaeological site has brought new ways for the town to make money.
Tourism and Jobs
Today, the archaeological site and all the services that go with it are a big part of Atapuerca's economy. About 15% of the people who work in Atapuerca have jobs related to tourism. Since the 1990s, this growth in tourism has helped the town's population. More people are moving to Atapuerca, and the average age of its residents is getting younger. This shows how much a historical site can help a community grow and thrive!
See also
In Spanish: Atapuerca (Burgos) para niños
