Terrazas del Manzanares, Archaeological site in Getafe, Spain.
Terrazas del Manzanares is an archaeological complex spreading along the river valley with dozens of excavation sites containing prehistoric remains. The locations sit at different elevations within the river system and its tributary areas.
Large vertebrate remains were discovered in the early 1800s, sparking scientific research in the region. Later excavations in the final decades of the 20th century revealed multiple prehistoric settlement locations across different Madrid neighborhoods.
The name references the river terraces that line the Manzanares and hold traces of human settlement over millennia. Today visitors can observe how this river landscape shaped where people chose to live and work.
The complex spreads from El Pardo to Getafe with most excavation areas near the river and accessible from surrounding streets. It works best to explore the different sections gradually since they are scattered across a wider territory.
Fossil finds here show an unusually broad range of animals from different prehistoric climate periods. This makes the site valuable for understanding how climate and wildlife changed across vast spans of time.
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