A new documentary on Neanderthals, entitled “Las últimas huellas del Neandertal” was officially launched at its premier in the town of Almonte (Huelva) in the heart of the Doñana National Park.

The premier screening took place before a large audience composed of local authorities, scientists, media and invited guests. The significance of the launch in Doñana relates to the remarkable discovery of footprints of Neanderthals and associated animals on its coastline in recent years, as a result of the exposure of fossilized surfaces by winter storms. These findings have been the subject of a number of scientific publications and further discoveries are expected. A team from the Gibraltar National Museum have been involved in the research which complements their work in the Gibraltar caves.

The film is the story of our ancestors and how they spread across Europe, turning the south of the Iberian Peninsula into a strategic refuge for Neanderthal survival. The documentary explores the world of the final Neanderthal groups in southern Europe from a new perspective: that of a coastal human species, adaptable and closely tied to a territory of great ecological richness. The film addresses key questions such as the role of the coastline as a bioclimatic refuge, their relationship with megafauna, the occupation of open landscapes, the development of tools and adhesives, and the growing importance of symbolic evidence in the Neanderthal world. Together, these elements form the portrait of a humanity far more sophisticated than we once imagined. It is a documentary about their life, their disappearance, and the trace that still remains within us.

Strong emphasis is placed throughout on Gibraltar itself and the discoveries which have been made here, following the ecological interpretations which the Gibraltar team have placed on their results and how these are being applied to the Doñana work. The documentary includes interviews with members of the Gibraltar team – Geraldine, Stewart and Clive Finlayson – and visits to Gorham’s and Vanguard Caves, which are described as the pivotal site in the Iberian Peninsula – the “Neanderthal City”. Included in the documentary are spectacular new reconstructions of Gibraltar and its surrounding landscape at the time of the Neanderthals. 

The documentary is expected to air initially in Canal Sur TV but an international version, in English, is being prepared for global distribution. In an exciting development following the Doñana event, the producers have agreed with the Gibraltar National Museum to hold the international premier of the documentary in Gibraltar during this year’s Calpe Conference, between the 1st and the 6th of September. Further details will be announced in due course.

A link to the trailer may be found here: https://lasultimashuellas.es/homehuellas2/