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Museum · Burgos, Castela e Leão
Museo de la Evolución Humana
Museum opened in 2010 on the banks of the Arlanzón, with fossils and finds from the Atapuerca sites and exhibitions on human evolution.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Museo de la Evolución Humana
The Museu da Evolução Humana was inaugurated in 2010 on the banks of the rio Arlanzón, in a glass building with large volumes designed by architect Juan Navarro Baldeweg. It was created to preserve and display the finds from the Atapuerca sites, a mountain range about 15 km from the city where decades of excavations have uncovered some of the oldest human remains in Europe.
The main floor recreates the environment of the sites and shows original fossils from Atapuerca, such as those from the Sima de los Huesos, a cave with remains of dozens of individuals about 400,000 years old, and those of Homo antecessor, a species described from finds in the range, dating to more than 800,000 years. Stone tools, animal bones and reconstructions help to understand the life of these groups.
The other floors deal with human evolution in general, with replicas of skulls of various species, an area about the brain and a room on Darwin's voyage on the Beagle. Life-size reconstructions of hominids, made by artists, are among the most photographed exhibits.
The museum, together with the sites, is part of the Patrimônio Mundial de Atapuerca, and it is from there that the buses for the guided visits to the sierra depart.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 2 to 3 hours.
Best time
In the morning or on a rainy day. If you are going to Atapuerca the same day, coordinate the museum's schedule with the site visit. Check opening days in advance.
How to get there
It is on the banks of the Arlanzón, on the south side of the river, about a 10-minute walk from the cathedral, crossing the ponte de San Pablo.
Tip
Visit the museum before going to Atapuerca: at the caves, the guided tour makes much more sense after you have seen the fossils.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Museo de la Evolución Humana
What to see at the Museu da Evolução Humana?
Original fossils from Atapuerca, such as those from the Sima de los Huesos and Homo antecessor, stone tools and exhibitions about human evolution.
How long does the visit take?
About 2 to 3 hours.
Do buses to Atapuerca leave from the museum?
Yes, on days with guided visits to the sites. Book in advance.