Geology of the Atapuerca fossil site, illustration. The Atapuerca mountain range in the province of Burgos, Spain, contains hominid fossils providing evidence for the presence and way of life of humanity over a period of nearly one million years. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000. The geology consists of karst, including small dolinas (subterranean chambers which open to the outside) and subterranean chambers and tunnels formed by water action. The sites marked here, in the La Trinchera region, are (from left to right): Gran Dolina (yellow), Galeria (blue), Sima del Elefante (purple), and Sima de los Huesos (orange). The scale at right gives the depths in metres above sea level. |