Early Middle Pleistocene deposits and artefacts in the Gran Dolina site (TD4) of the 'Sierra de Atapuerca' (Burgos, Spain)

Abstract The archaeological excavations conducted in 1990 in the lower levels (TD4) of the Gran Dolina site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain), a stratified cave context, yielded many faunal remains and five lithic artefacts made of quartzite. Determination of the Matuyama/Brunhes geomagnetic reversal at the base of the immediately underlying level (TD3), dates these finds to an initial phase of the Middle Pleistocene. The occupation of the Dolina TD4 level constitutes the best evidence to date for the existence of human habitation in the Iberian Peninsula from the early Middle Pleistocene.