Pre-Historic Costa Blanca | Living In The Costa Blanca
The Mediterranean Coast and sea have not t always existed as we know it today and to find out how the land, we have come to love was formed with have to go back in time millions of years when the lands of Italy and Spain were joined together and part of a larger landmass. This larger land was part of the continent of Eurasia. However, geological movements over tens of millions of years led to a sea called Tethys Ocean which gradually split the continent into separate lands which would eventually become Africa, Arabia, India and some parts of southern Europe. This ocean continued to shrink because of movements of the movement of the earths tectonic plates and the process formed the basis of the Mediterranean that we know today. The countries of Italy and Spain weren’t formed by one event but, very gradually over millions of years. The beautiful Costa Blanca region was further sculpted over time by powerful rivers caving the valleys and providing the fertile soil that is the basis for so much wonderful produce today.
The first humans living on the Costa Blanca
Although the exact time that the first humans chose to make the Costa Blanca their home is still unknown, archaeological evidence indicates that the early hominins, probably Homo Erectus, roamed into the area across the landmass from Italy 500,000 years ago. They were nomadic hunter-gatherers who were very good at adapting to their environment and utilising the natural resources of any areas where they settled.
Neanderthals living in Spain
This robust species became the dominant inhabitants in the Costa Blanca about a quarter of a million years ago and even that long ago begun to make tools and use fire for warmth, cooking and safety.
Homo Sapiens living in the Costa Blanca
Approximately 40,000 years ago our direct ancestors arrived in the Costa Blanca, the Homo Sapiens were more advanced than their predecessors with thought processes that allowed them to make more advanced tools and revolutionise humankind. They were excellent at hunting, fishing and gathering and there are plenty of archaeological records of their life in the Costa Blanca in the form of cave paintings, figurines and bone tools. There are some great excursions you can take to see evidence of those who lived in the Costa Blanca before us, the Cova Fordada in Denia and La Cueva Roja in Calpe both give us great insight into our ancestors who lived in the caves where remarkable paintings showing bison, horses and ibex can be seen.
Close to Javea, Pedreguer and Orba are the Coves de Calaveras which were discovered in the 19th century and where stone tools, animal remains, and human skulls have been found. The skulls are estimated to be about 45,000 years old and belong to a group known as the Early Upper Paleolithic humans and were a race that developed from the interbreeding of Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens. These caves are also regularly used for concerts because of the wonderful acoustics particularly for choirs who perform in the area.
Mesolithic inhabitants of the Costa Blanca
It was during this time that the climate and the environment begun to change, and the landscape became more open. The residents of the Costa Blanca at this time begun to develop small sharp blades for hunting and crafting. One of the most important sites on the Costa Blanca is the Parpalló Cave in Gandia where excavations have brought to light an abundance of artifacts from this period in the history of the Costa Blanca including bone tools and ornaments made from shells
Neolithic Period – the dawn of Farming in the Costa Blanca
The next of our ancestors to live in the Costa Blanca were the Neoliths who became dominant in the area and possessed tool-making skills crafting stone utensils for hunting, butchering and scraping skins for hide-clothing. Campsites have been discovered in the Costa Blanca which show that they used fire with great efficiency to stay warm, cook and keep predators away. They began to cultivate crops of wheat and barley and domesticate sheep and goats which allowed for permanent settlements to form and social hierarchies to be established.
The Copper Age – The arrival of Technology in the Costa Blanca
This period introduced metal work to the area as humans learned to extract and shape copper to craft more durable tools and weapons. This was an incredible change and advancement in technology and enables those living on the Costa Blanca at this time to develop their maritime skills and better utilise the resources of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Bronze Age
This soon followed and just a short ferry ride from Denia it is possible to see an excellent example of a bronze age settlement on the Island of Ibiza- The Puig de Molins is a hilltop fort with walls, ramparts and dwellings which give us a wonderful idea about the lives of these early inhabitants of Spains coast.
Conclusion
The legacy left by our pre-historic forebears for all those who now live in the Costa Blanca is fascinating and there are some great places to visit to see how they once lived and helped to cultivate and from this beautiful place. Think of them when relaxing with a glass of wine and a tapa and imagine what it would have been like to be living in the Costa Blanca all those thousands of years ago.
