One of the most innovative aspects of our research at the Gibraltar Museum for the past decade has been the detailed reconstruction of past landscapes, especially those of the Late Pleistocene, around 40 thousand years ago. This has been possible because of the unique fossil record of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in Gorham's and other important caves on the Rock.
Gorham's Cave (2nd from left) and Vanguard Cave (3rd from left) are a unique archive of fossils covering the period 50-15 thousand years ago. This was the last refuge of the Neanderthals in the planet but many other species lived here. One was particularly at home on the spectacular cliffs of the Rock and were the favourite prey of the Neanderthals. It was the Ibex Capra pyrenaica.
almost intact 40 thousand-year old Ibex skull from a cave excavated in 1994 by the Gibraltar Museum and named Ibex Cave after this find. The museum's collection is rich in the remains of this species.
Our work has involved the study of hundreds of species which left fossils in Gorham's Cave and studying their behaviour and ecology in sites where they can still be found today. This exhaustive work that has now surpassed the detailed record of over 1000 sites is giving us a very clear picture of what Gibraltar was like at the time of the Neanderthals. And images, like these, also help bring these places back to life in museum displays, our website and here. They are also an important part of our education programme. We will continue with this reconstruction in future posts. For now, enjoy imagining a scene on the Rock with herds of these majestic creatures!
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