Roughly 36,000 years ago, long before cities rose or civilizations took shape, small groups of Homo sapiens ventured deep into the heart of the Iberian Peninsula. These were not the great coastal settlements we often imagine, where abundant resources and milder climates seemed to make survival easier. Instead, these people journeyed into the Meseta, the high interior plateau of Spain, where winters were biting, climates unpredictable, and resources scattered. For decades, archaeologists believed this region remained largely empty after the disappearance of the Neanderthals. Yet, new research led by Edgar Téllez at the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH) challenges that view, opening a vivid new chapter in the story of human resilience.
The Abrigo de La Malia Site
At the center of this discovery lies the Abrigo de La Malia site in Tamajón, Guadalajara. Here, through painstaking excavation and analysis, researchers uncovered the remnants of animals hunted and processed by early human groups. These bones, silent witnesses of the past, revealed a history of repeated visits to the site that stretched over at least 10,000 years. Each return marked a deliberate choice: despite the difficulties, the Meseta offered something essential for survival.
Far from being a one-time refuge, the rock shelter functioned as a recurring stop for hunting expeditions. The settlers did not establish permanent villages here, but instead arrived in short bursts, taking advantage of seasonal opportunities. Their lives were not defined by staying still but by movement, strategy, and adaptation.
Hunting as a Way of Life
The faunal remains paint a vivid picture of what life was like for these pioneering groups. They hunted deer, wild horses, bison, and chamois—animals well suited to forest, mountain, and grassland environments. These were not random choices; they reflected a sophisticated understanding of the landscape and its rhythms. To survive in the Meseta meant knowing when herds would pass, which valleys provided cover, and how to process large game efficiently.
These hunters were skilled not only in the chase but also in the careful use of their prey. Initial processing of carcasses often took place at the site itself. Bones reveal traces of butchery, skinning, and marrow extraction—evidence that these visits were organized around provisioning, not settlement. The site functioned as a workshop of survival, where animal bodies were transformed into meat, hides, and tools.
Adapting to a Changing World
One of the most striking aspects of the study is the climate context. Around 36,000 years ago, the world was anything but stable. The period was marked by dramatic swings in temperature, abrupt changes in vegetation, and shifting ecosystems. In such conditions, survival demanded flexibility.
The groups who came to La Malia were not passive victims of their environment. They were knowledgeable, adaptable, and resilient. By focusing on medium and large ungulates, they developed a consistent strategy that could withstand environmental instability. Their repeated return to the site suggests confidence in their methods and familiarity with the land. The Meseta, once thought inhospitable, provided enough resources for those who knew how to read its signs.
Challenging Old Narratives
For years, the prevailing narrative held that after the Neanderthals disappeared, the Iberian interior was left virtually empty. Researchers believed it was not until the end of the Last Glacial Period, some 20,000 years ago, that modern humans returned in significant numbers. Instead, coastal areas—Mediterranean, Cantabrian, and Atlantic—were seen as the centers of human activity, rich in archaeological evidence.
The findings at Abrigo de La Malia turn this view on its head. Here is tangible proof that modern humans were already inhabiting and exploiting the Meseta much earlier than previously believed. Far from being a void, the interior was a dynamic space of mobility, subsistence, and adaptation. This forces us to rethink models of human settlement, raising questions about how groups dispersed, how they chose their territories, and how cultural traditions developed in regions that seemed less favorable.
A Little-Explored Region with Big Implications
The Meseta has long been one of the least studied regions of Paleolithic archaeology. Compared to the abundance of sites on the coasts, the plateau’s archaeological record remained thin, leaving gaps in our understanding of how early humans spread across Iberia. That is why discoveries like La Malia are so transformative. They do not just add another site to the map—they shift the framework of interpretation.
By showing that humans repeatedly occupied this environment during the early Upper Paleolithic, the study highlights the diversity of human strategies. It reminds us that survival was not about following a single pattern but about adapting to many different landscapes, each with its own challenges and opportunities.
The Human Story Beneath the Stones
When we think about the first settlers of the Meseta, it is tempting to reduce them to hunters with spears and simple tools. Yet their story runs deeper. These were families and groups who shared knowledge, passed down survival strategies, and made decisions together about where to go and when. They lived under the same stars we see today, listened to the crackle of fire in the cold nights, and watched herds of animals move across the open plains.
Their ability to endure constant change and carve out a place in a seemingly harsh environment speaks to the universal human qualities of ingenuity and resilience. It is a story not only about bones and tools but about courage—the courage to move into the unknown and make it home, even if only for a season.
A New Chapter in Iberian Prehistory
The research led by Edgar Téllez and his team is more than an academic achievement; it is a reframing of prehistory. By carefully studying the animal remains of La Malia, they have opened a new perspective on the first Homo sapiens who ventured into the heart of Iberia. Their work suggests that these pioneers were far more dynamic and adaptive than once assumed.
The Meseta, once written off as empty, now emerges as a space of survival, knowledge, and strategy. This challenges us to look beyond old assumptions and appreciate the complexity of human history in all its forms. It is a reminder that the past is never static. With every excavation, every bone studied, and every layer of soil sifted, we come closer to understanding the extraordinary journey of our species.
More information: Edgar Téllez et al, Subsistence strategies in the early upper Paleolithic of central Iberia: Evidence from Abrigo de la Malia, Quaternary Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100297
