Prado Vargas Excavations Reach 140 Square Meters in Neanderthal Layer

The 2026 field season at Prado Vargas Cave, situated in the village of Cornejo in northern Burgos, Spain, has extended the excavation of Neanderthal sublevel 4D by an additional 32 m² (344 ft²). The expanded work brings the total area excavated to 140 m² (1,507 ft²), deepening the study of this key layer within the Ojo Guareña karst complex.

During the season, archaeologists recovered more than 1,500 animal remains and a substantial assemblage of stone tools. The density and diversity of the faunal and lithic evidence reinforce the interpretation of sublevel 4D as a large Neanderthal camp dating to roughly 46,000 years ago, providing further insight into the behaviour and subsistence strategies of the species in the Iberian Peninsula.

These findings underscore the importance of Prado Vargas Cave as a critical site for understanding Neanderthal occupation in the region. The continued excavation and analysis of the expanded area will contribute to a more comprehensive picture of the species’ adaptation to the early Upper Paleolithic environment.