A walk through the exhibition
Hall 1_ Presentation
Atapuerca World Heritage
This hall is dedicated to introducing visitors to the location of the Atapuerca sites and the city of Burgos, Spain. Accordingly, it features a range of different exhibition media and formats, such as projections of the geographical location, a presentation video on the Atapuerca Mountains, a model of the Atapuerca Mountains showing the location of the sites, detailed photographs and texts with explanations about the cavities and sites, a model of the mining train along with a text on the history of the discovery of the Atapuerca sites, and a display cabinet full of publications and documents from that time.
Hall 2 _ Sites
Gran Dolina and Sima del Elefante
The history and presentation of the sites covering the period of Homo antecessor ; an introduction to this species on the evolution tree by means of a light box with graphics; large photographs and lit display cabinets showing the discoveries, especially Homo antecessor ; an explanation of the importance of the discoveries; a presentation of the original bones showing signs of cannibalism; conclusions about the behaviour of these hominids, etc. The hall is also home to a number of items that have never been seen anywhere in the world: the phalange of the original hand found in the site of the Sima del Elefante, the original skull of Homo antecessor and the rigorous reconstruction of its head. Along with the “Gran Dolina Boy” are the famous “Turkana Boy” ( Homo ergaster , replica of the skull and reconstruction), the “Taung Child”, the skull of a modern boy and that of a small chimpanzee, which explain how development has varied throughout evolution since the first Australopithecines through to the first Homo , comparing them to Homo antecessor.
Hall 3 _ Sites
Galería
The history and presentation of the site and its use by fauna and humans. A description of the conclusions offered by the remains by means of an artist's image showing carnivores and humans. Images of the excavation process and reproductions of some of the pieces of stone industry found in the Railway Ditch. Video on the cutting of a quartzite biface.
Hall 4 _ Sites
Sima de los Huesos
History and presentation of the site and of the position of Homo heidelbergensis in the human evolution tree; description of the complicated access and location of the site within the system of cavities of the Cueva Mayor: the path you have to follow to reach the place, illustrated by means of photographs and a video of the cave. Use of the cave by humans, projection of an infographics production of “Skull 5”, showing both the external surface and the interior of the skull. There are also photographs and projections showing both the time of the discovery and the excavation process, which was carried out under complicated conditions. The original Skull 5 is shown (the most complete skull of the palaeontological collection) and a reliable reconstruction of its head, including the septicaemia of the mouth, which must have killed him (world's first such presentation). A video projection of the reconstruction process (making of) by the brothers Alfons and Adrian Kennis of some of the fossils from the Sima de los Huesos. The biface called “Excalibur” is also presented as, possibly, the first known funeral offering in the history of mankind. The “Excalibur” excavation process is illustrated by means of an audiovisual presentation. Presentation of the famous pelvis known as “Elvis” (the most complete hip, some 400,000 years old), which is on display in comparison with a modern pelvis as an introduction to an installation that explains how the proportions of the human extremities have changed throughout the evolution process.
Hall 5 _ The Museum of Human Evolution
Presentation of the model of the Museum of Human Evolution Complex, which is being constructed in the city of Burgos. This complex encompasses the National Research Centre on Human Evolution (CNIEH) and the Auditorium–Conference Centre in addition to the Museum of Human Evolution. By means of images and an audiovisual presentation the public is informed of this ambitious and exciting project, which will be completed in 2010.