Prince Albert II visits Spanish prehistoric digs
G. Luci / Palais Princier
Like his great-grandfather, Prince Albert I, the Sovereign is increasingly interested in the history of humanity.
Prince Albert II hasn’t stopped travelling all summer. After his meeting with the Royal Family of Norway and Pope Francis at the Vatican, the Sovereign visited Spain on Tuesday, 26 July. More precisely, he visited the caves of the Sierra Atapuerca, near Burgos.
Advertising
Accompanied by the Monegasque ambassador to Spain, Catherine Fautrier-Rousseau, Prince Albert II visited the prehistoric site of the Sierra Atapuerca where many hominid fossils are to be found. It is on this site, in fact, that the oldest male of the Homo genus was discovered and named Homo antecessor.
For the occasion, the Sovereign swapped his traditional suite for a more practical archaeologist’s outfit. During his visit, he was able to see the latest discovery made on the site. This summer, a hominid jawbone was unearthed, dating back four hundred thousand years.
A museum about the evolution of the human species
Prince Albert II took the opportunity to visit the Museum of Human Evolution in Burgos. According to the museum, the Prince was surprised to learn that the fossils on display to the public are the originals.
In this museum, the Sovereign was able to see many human remains but above all, the reconstructed skeleton of Homo antecessor, which is one million years old.