Torralba and Ambrona (archaeological site) facts for kids
Torralba and Ambrona are two very important paleontological and archaeological sites in Spain. They are located in the Province of Soria, in a region called Castile and León. These sites hold many fossils and tools made by early humans.
The remains found here are about 350,000 years old. This means they are from the Lower Paleolithic period, also known as the Early Stone Age. Scientists have found fossils of large animals, especially ancient elephants. There are remains of almost 50 elephants from each site! They also found fossils of large cows and horses.
Scientists think these sites might have been like "elephants' graveyards," similar to places in Africa today where many elephants gather and die. The sites also show that early humans lived here. They might have used these places for hunting or, more likely, for finding and cutting up dead animals.
Torralba and Ambrona are about 3 kilometers apart. They are part of the towns of Ambrona and Torralba del Moral. These sites have been studied for a long time.
People first learned about these sites in the late 1800s. Many important people have excavated them. These include the Marquis of Cerralbo (1909-1914), the American Francis Clark Howell with Emiliano Aguirre (1960s and 1980s), and later Manuel Santonja and Alfredo Pérez-González (1990s).
The fossils and tools found are now in different museums. You can see them at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, the National Archaeological Museum, the Numantine Museum of Soria, and a special museum right at the Ambrona site.
These sites were declared a "Cultural Interest Asset" in 1995. They are also recognized as "places of international geological interest" because of their important vertebrate fossils.
Contents
- Discovering Ancient Life: A History of Excavations
- Ancient Environments: Geology and Dating
- Ancient Life: Paleontology at Torralba and Ambrona
- Tools of Early Humans: Archaeology
- Visiting the Past: The Paleontological Museum
- Other Places to See Finds
- See also
Discovering Ancient Life: A History of Excavations
Early Finds: How Torralba and Ambrona Were Discovered
The first ancient remains at Torralba appeared in 1888. Workers were digging canals for a new railway station. They found bones and tools. Some of these early finds went to the School of Mining Engineering in Madrid. Other pieces were given to private collectors.
The Marquis of Cerralbo: First Major Excavations
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The first big excavations were led by Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, the Marquis of Cerralbo. He started digging in Torralba in 1909 and then in Ambrona from 1914 to 1916. His work was considered the best of its time.
The Marquis heard about "huge" elephant bones in 1907 while on vacation. He visited the site and knew right away how old the remains were. He decided to pay for the excavations himself. He hoped to find proof that early humans lived at the same time as these ancient animals. He even set up a special workshop nearby.
The Marquis of Cerralbo excavated a large area. He found 525 elephant bones, 86 horse bones, 37 large cow bones, 25 deer bones, and 3 rhinoceros bones. He also found 557 stone tools. These tools included hand axes, cleavers, and flakes.
His work became known around the world. He shared his discoveries at a big meeting in Geneva in 1912. Also, a German scientist named Hugo Obermaier wrote about the Torralba finds in his famous book, The Fossil Man.
Howell and Aguirre: Modern Scientific Studies
The American anthropologist Francis Clark Howell led six excavation projects at Torralba and Ambrona. These took place between 1961 and 1963, and again in 1980, 1981, and 1983. His studies first suggested that early humans actively hunted animals here. However, later research suggested they might have mostly scavenged.
Howell's team also found signs of fire. This suggested that early humans knew how to control fire. In 1960, Howell visited the sites and got money and permission to dig. He worked with an international team of scientists. They used modern methods to study the sites.
They carefully mapped the areas and labeled every bone and tool they found. They even took samples of pollen from the clay stuck to elephant teeth. This helped them understand what the environment was like back then.
In 1973, Emiliano Aguirre directed more excavations around the Ambrona Museum. This helped protect the museum from humidity. Howell's last digs were in the early 1980s. He hoped to find human fossils.
During these years, Howell excavated over 1,000 square meters in Torralba. He found about 700 stone tools and more than 2,100 fossils. In Ambrona, he dug about 2,700 square meters. Here, he found over 4,400 stone tools and thousands of fossils, including more than 2,000 elephant bones.
All this work led to many scientific papers. These papers covered topics like paleontology (study of fossils), archaeology (study of human history), geology (study of Earth's structure), and paleoclimatology (study of ancient climates).
Santonja and Pérez-González: Understanding the Site Formation
After Howell's work, scientists debated some of his ideas. They especially discussed whether humans actively hunted or used bone tools. To understand exactly how the sites were formed, archaeologist Manuel Santonja and geologist Alfredo Pérez-González started new excavations.
Their main goal was to study the geology and layers of the earth very carefully. They dug small test pits first. This helped them understand the different layers before digging larger areas. The main excavations were in Ambrona from 1993 to 2000.
Their team included many experts. They studied mammals, pollen, fish, birds, and more. Many archaeology students also helped with the digging.
They excavated 688 square meters in Ambrona. They found about 975 stone tools. Most of the animal bones were left in the ground. They were protected so they could be studied later. This was done in case the museum wanted to expand its exhibits.
Their work resulted in many important publications. One big book about their findings was published in 2005.
Ancient Environments: Geology and Dating
Earth's Layers: Understanding the Stratigraphy
The fossils and tools at Torralba and Ambrona are found in ancient river and lake sediments. These layers sit on top of older rocks from the Triassic period. The sites are located in a flat valley that used to be a type of ancient basin called a polje.
At Ambrona, scientists have found seven different layers of sediment. These layers are grouped into three main parts:
- Lower part: Made of gravel, gray silts, and clays.
- Middle part: Contains sands and gray limes.
- Upper part: Has gravels and red sands.
The lowest layers show signs of ancient river channels. The middle layers suggest a shallow river or lake environment. The top layer, which has no fossils or tools, shows signs of alluvial fans (fan-shaped deposits of sediment).
The Torralba site is thought to be slightly newer than Ambrona. It has about 15 meters of sediment layers. In 1965, a scientist named Butzer identified thirteen units in Torralba's layers. These were grouped into two main "complexes," both with fossils and stone tools:
- Lower complex: Gray in color, with gravels, sands, and marls.
- Upper complex: Reddish in color, with sands, marls, and gravels.
How Old Are They? Dating the Sites
Scientists used special methods to find out the age of the sites. They combined electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and uranium-thorium (U-Th) dating on horse teeth. This showed that the sites are at least 350,000 years old. This age matches a period called OSI 9 or the end of OSI 11.
Studies of paleomagnetism (Earth's ancient magnetic field) also helped. All samples from Ambrona showed normal magnetic polarity. This matches the current magnetic period, called the Brunhes chron, which began 779,000 years ago.
Ancient Life: Paleontology at Torralba and Ambrona
What Lived Here? Identified Species
Scientists have identified many different types of ancient life at these sites. The lists of species have changed over time as new discoveries were made. Here are some of the most up-to-date findings:
Tiny Organisms
- Algae: Different types of diatoms and chrysophytes.
Plants
- Grasses: Such as Poaceae (true grasses), Asteraceae (daisy family), and Fabaceae (pea family).
- Water Plants: Like Cyperaceae (sedges), Nymphaeaceae (water lilies), and Typha (cattails).
- Shrubs: Including juniper and plants from the Rosaceae (rose family).
- Trees: Such as pine, alder, willow, elm, oak, birch, chestnut, hazel, and walnut.
Small Creatures
- Ostracodes: Tiny crustaceans that live in water.
Fish, Amphibians, and Reptiles
- Fish: Bermejuela (Chondrostoma arcasii).
- Toads: Common toad (Bufo bufo) and Runner toad (Bufo calamita).
- Frogs: Spanish painted frog (Discoglossus jeanneae), European tree frog (Hyla arborea), and Perez's frog (Rana perezi).
- Snakes: Ladder snake (cf. Elaphe scalaris) and Water snake (Natrix sp.).
Birds
- Waterfowl: Greylag goose (Anser anser), Ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Northern pintail (Anas acuta), and Gadwall (Anas strepera).
- Other Birds: Western swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), and Great bustard (Otis tarda).
Small Mammals
- Shrews: Crocidura sp.
- Voles: Microtus (Iberomys) brecciensis and Southwestern water vole (Arvicola sapidus).
- Mice: Wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus).
- Rabbits: Oryctolagus sp.
Meat-Eating Mammals (Carnivores)
- Hyena: Early Middle Pleistocene European cave hyena (Crocuta crocuta aff. praespelaea).
- Lion: Early Middle Pleistocene European cave lion (Panthera leo cf. fossilis).
- Fox: Vulpes sp.
- Wolf: Mosbach's wolf (Canis lupus cf. mosbachensis).
Large Herbivores
- Elephant: Ancient elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus platyrhynchus).
- Rhinoceros: Stephanorhinus hemitoechus.
- Horse: Torralba's horse (Equus caballus torralbae).
- Deer: European red deer (Cervus elaphus), Fallow deer (Dama dama), Roe Deer (Capreolus sp.), and Great-horned deer (Megaloceros savini).
- Cattle: Ancient bull (Bos antiquus) or primitive bull (Bos primigenius).
Early Humans
- Heidelberg's man: (? Homo heidelbergensis). No human bones have been found at these sites. However, the stone tools and marks on elephant bones show that humans were present. Scientists believe it was Homo heidelbergensis because of similar finds at the Atapuerca site, which is around the same age.
What the Environment Was Like: Paleoecology
The plants found through pollen analysis show how the environment changed over time. Generally, the area was a river and lake environment with a mild, wet climate. This climate was softer and more humid than today's climate.
In the lower layers, there were grasses, trees like alder, willow, and elm along the rivers. Later, the area became more like a moorland with junipers and pine forests. The middle layers show mostly pine forests.
Diatoms (tiny algae) tell us that the water in the lagoon became saltier at certain times. This might have been from salts in the surrounding rocks. The water level also changed, becoming lower towards the end of the middle period.
The presence of certain ostracods (small crustaceans) suggests the water was not very salty. The types of frogs found also indicate a milder climate. Summers were less dry, and winters were less cold than they are now. Some frog specimens show they died between March and summer, probably in spring.
The only fish found, the bermejuela, suggests a small river or a not-very-large lagoon. Some birds found are typical of shallow lake areas with thick plants. No diving birds were found, which also suggests the lagoon was shallow.
The mammals found tell us about the landscape. Some lived in forests (deer), while others lived in open areas with meadows (elephants, rhinoceros, large cows). The presence of water voles and elephants shows there was plenty of water. All these animals point to a climate that was warmer and wetter than today.
When Did They Live? Biochronology
The mammals found at Torralba and Ambrona help scientists figure out the age of the sites. The animals here are typical of the mid-Middle Pleistocene period. This time was between 400,000 and 300,000 years ago.
For example, the vole Microtus (I.) brecciensis found at Ambrona has some early features. The ancient elephant Palaeoloxodon antiquus and the primitive bull Bos primigenius also show older traits. These traits are from populations that lived before the late-Middle Pleistocene.
Other sites with similar animal groups and ages include Áridos (Madrid), Pinedo (Toledo), and Solana del Zamborino (Granada).
What Happened to the Bones? Taphonomy
The bones of large mammals are often scattered, worn down, and broken. This shows they were moved by water. However, in clay or silty layers, bones are sometimes found still connected, meaning they weren't moved much. In one area, almost a complete elephant skeleton was found!
Scientists also found signs that humans handled some elephant bones. There were certain breaks and cut marks made by stone tools. This shows humans used the bones for something.
The large number of elephant bones at Ambrona is similar to modern "Elephants' graveyards." These are places near water where many animals, especially elephants, die. In these places, other animals might trample and break the bones. The way elephants died at Ambrona seems to fit this natural death pattern. It doesn't look like they were selectively hunted.
Some scientists have described an unusual arrangement of elephant bones at Ambrona. They found a tusk and five long bones lined up. Some people thought this might be a ritual, but there is no proof for this idea.
Elephants are the most common mammals found at most levels. However, in some layers, horses are more common than other animals.
Tools of Early Humans: Archaeology
Stone Tools: Lithic Industry
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Many stone tools have been found at these sites. However, compared to the huge areas excavated, the number of tools is not extremely high. These tools belong to the late Acheulean period, which is part of the Middle Pleistocene.
The tools come in many types. These include hand axes, cleavers, racloirs (scrapers), denticulates (toothed tools), perforators (borers), and burins (engraving tools).
The tools were made from different materials: flint, quartzite, limestone, and quartz. Some materials, like flint and quartzite, were brought from far away. Others, like limestone and quartz, were found nearby.
Most of the tools show signs of being moved by water, but not very far. This means they were not made exactly where they were found. There is no evidence that tools were made on site. Instead, it seems they were only sharpened or reshaped there, especially tools made of quartzite.
Bone Tools: Bone Industry Debate
Whether early humans made tools from bones and elephant tusks at these sites is a big debate among scientists.
Some scientists, like Villa and her team, say there is no proof of bone tools, at least not at Ambrona. They studied the breaks and changes on the bone surfaces. They believe the many broken tips of young elephant tusks found were caused by natural activities. For example, elephants might break their tusks while stripping bark from trees or digging for water, just like elephants do today.
However, other scientists, like Aguirre, believe that some simple bone tools were likely made. He thinks some bone pieces with sharp points and edges were used as tools. Aguirre also suggests that the ivory tusk tips were used as soft hammerstones. He thinks humans selected and prepared them to shape stone tools. He bases this on experiments with modern elephant bones and comparing the results to the marks on the ancient bones.
Visiting the Past: The Paleontological Museum
There is a small museum right at the Ambrona site. It shows some of the fossils exactly as they were found in the ground.
The idea for the museum came from Aguirre in 1963. Howell saved an area of the excavation where the fossils were left in place. The museum was finished in November 1963. It was the first museum of its kind in Spain. Later, in 1985, laboratories and a public exhibit room were added. This allowed the museum to display materials that had been stored in other museums.
Outside the museum, there is a life-size model of an ancient elephant. It helps visitors imagine what these huge animals looked like.
Other Places to See Finds
Besides the museum at Ambrona, you can also see materials from these sites at:
- The Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (National Museum of Natural Sciences)
- The National Archaeological Museum of Spain
- The Museo Arqueológico Regional de la Comunidad de Madrid (Regional Archaeological Museum of the Community of Madrid)
See also
In Spanish: Yacimientos de Torralba y Ambrona para niños
