The CENIEH archaeopaleontological collection comprises pieces from the Sierra de Atapuerca sites on temporary deposit, as provided for in the Agreement signed between the CENIEH, the Consejería de Cultura y Turismo of the Junta de Castilla y León and the Fundación Siglo para el Turismo y las Artes de Castilla y León. These pieces include human fossils, fauna and lithic pieces from Pleistocene levels of the Galería, Gran Dolina, Trinchera Penal, Sima del Elefante, Cueva Fantasma and Sima de los Huesos sites.
The collection expands each year as new pieces are deposited in accordance with a calendar established in advance. These items must be inventoried and cataloged following deposit. The enormous number of these pieces and how long these operations take normally means there is a delay of one year between the date of deposit and the moment of availability to the scientific community for consultation. The items are scheduled to become available according to the following (approximate) calendar:
2021.
Fauna
Gran Dolina. Level TD6 from 1994 to 1996. Various levels from the 2000 to 2005 campaigns.
Covacha de los Zarpazos. 2000 to 2005 campaigns.
Galería. 2000 to 2002 campaigns.
Sima del Elefante. 1992-2012 campaigns.
Bone fragments from the disturbed ground at Sima de los Huesos. 1983-1992 campaigns.
Stone Tools
Gran Dolina. 2000 to 2005 campaigns.
Covacha de los Zarpazos. 2000 to 2005 campaigns.
Galería. 2000 to 2002 campaigns.
Sima del Elefante 2000 to 2005.
Human Fossils
Human mandible and phalange from Sima del Elefante.
Human parietal bone from Cueva Fantasma.
Human fossils from Gran Dolina TD6.
Human fossils from hands and feet found at Sima de Los Huesos.
Bags of washed sediment, unsifted, from the Covacha de los Zarpazos, Sima del Elefante, Galería, Gran Dolina, Portalón de Cueva Mayor, Sima de los Huesos and Trinchera Penal sites, from campaigns between 1989 and 2010.
2022
Fauna
Gran Dolina. 1985-1999 and 2006-2008 campaigns.
Galería. 1985-1999 and 2006-2008 campaigns.
Covacha de los Zarpazos. 1985-1999 and 2006-2008 campaigns.
Sima del Elefante. 1985-1999 and 2006-2008 campaigns.
Stone Tools
Gran Dolina. 1985-1999 and 2006-2008 campaigns.
Galería. 1985-1999 and 2006-2008 campaigns.
Covacha de los Zarpazos. 1985-1999 and 2006-2008 campaigns.
Sima del Elefante. 1985-1999 and 2006-2008 campaigns.