UREP 2000: The Peña Oviedo Project

From Hunter to Farmer: Prehistoric People in Spain

July 2 - 15 and July 17 - 30, 2000

Famous for the prehistoric paintings of Altamira, the caves and spectacular valleys of northern Spain still have more answers to yield about the history of the people living there in prehistoric times. Since 1989, archaeologists have been uncovering artifacts at Peña Oviedo, an isolated, ten-mile long valley that rises dramatically from near sea level to over a mile high. This area contains evidence of the important transition that occurred as their prehistoric inhabitants began to cultivate plants and to herd animals.

Participants will assist Dr. Agustín Diez-Castillo and David Cohen of UC Berkeley, Goretty Robles -Senior archaeologist and Spanish teacher at Emery High- to excavate megalithic shrines and early Neolithic domestic structures. They will help analyze and catalog artifacts as well as photograph and map the sites This research will help understand the cultural interaction between hunter-gatherers and farmers in Atlantic Europe. One day trip to some of the more important Paleolithic sites in the world (either Atapuerca, or Altamira) is guaranteed.

If you want to join us for Y2K, you can find information of how to apply at the University Research Expedition Program  (University of California).