Abric Romaní

Abric Romaní, also known as Abric Romaní de Capellades, is an archaeological site with unique and important finds pertaining to Neanderthals. As wooden materials have been preserved, the site provides insight into Neanderthal wood processing, which is unique. The site is located 60 meters above the current level of the Noya river, at an elevation of 300–320 m a.s.l. The site is situated in the municipality of Capellades, approximately 50 km from Barcelona. The first archaeological artifacts were discovered in 1909 by Amador Romaní, the site was later named after him (it was previously called Balma del Fossar Vell). The site is primarily dated to the Late Middle Paleolithic, from 70,000 to 39,000 years before present (BP), when Neanderthals inhabited the site. The presence of an Aurignacian industry in the youngest layer, dated to around 39,000 years B.C., indicates that modern humans arrived at the site at that time.