Aroeira 3

#319 among destinations in Portugal

Nature, Natural attraction, Cave

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Facts and practical information

Aroeira 3 is a 400,000 year old Homo heidelbergensis hominid skull which was discovered in the Aroeira cave, Portugal. It is the earliest human trace in Portugal. H. heidelbergensis existed at the transition between Homo erectus and early Neanderthals and used both stone tools and fire. The skull was damaged during the 2014 excavation but was restored in the following two years. In 2017 the description of the skull was published in PNAS. It is on display in the National Archaeology Museum. ()

Alternative names: Coordinates: 39°30'21"N, 8°36'57"W

Location

SantarémPortugal

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Day trips

Aroeira 3 – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Castelo de Torres Novas, Pegadas de Dinossáurios da Serra de Aire Natural Monument, Gruta de Moinhos Velhos, Grutas de Mira de Aire.

4.4 miSE
Forts and castles
Castelo de Torres Novas, Torres Novas
112 min walk • The Castle of Torres Novas is a medieval castle in the civil parish of Torres Novas, Lapas e Ribeira Branca, municipality of Torres Novas, Portuguese district of Santarém. It is classified as a National Monument.
4.5 miN
Protected area
Pegadas de Dinossáurios da Serra de Aire Natural Monument, Fátima
116 min walk • Pegadas de Dinossáurios da Serra de Aire Natural Monument is a natural monument in the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park, Portugal, known for its sauropod tracks. It has the single longest known sauropod track in the world. It is part of the Calcários Micríticos formation.
5.3 miNW
Nature, Natural attraction, Cave
Gruta de Moinhos Velhos, Mira de Aire
135 min walk • The Moinhos Velhos Cave, is one of the most important cave systems known in the Portuguese Estremadura Limestone Massif, with about 9 km in extension.
5.3 miNW
39°32'25"N • 8°42'15"W
Grutas de Mira de Aire, Mira de Aire
135 min walk • Geologic formation, Park, View point
~0 ftN
Archaeological site
Cave of Aroeira
1 min walk • The Cave of Aroeira is an archaeological and paleoanthropological site in the Portuguese Estremadura Limestone Massif. The cave is located in the village of Almonda, in the civil parish of Zibreira, in the municipality of Torres Novas in the district of Santarém.
4.5 miSE
39°28'45"N • 8°32'20"W
Museu Carlos Reis, Torres Novas
115 min walk • History museum, Art museum, Museum
5.9 miSE
Vernacular architecture
Roman ruins of Villa Cardillio, Torres Novas
151 min walk • The Roman ruins of Villa Cardillio is an archaeological site located in central Portugal. Situated in the rural civil parish of Santa Maria, it is located approximately 3 km from the centre of the municipal seat of Torres Novas.
4.7 miN
Prehistoric site
Monumento Natural das Pegadas de Dinossáurios de Ourém/Torres Novas
120 min walk • The Serra de Aire Dinosaur Footprints Natural Monument, better known just as Serra de Aire Footprints, was created in 1996, by Regulatory Decree 12/96 of October 22. As the name indicates, it is located in Portugal, in Serra de Aire, near Fátima...
4.6 miE
39°28'48"N • 8°32'9"W
Fonte dos bombeiros, Torres Novas
118 min walk • Fountain
4.3 miSW
Locality
Alcanena
110 min walk • One of the town's most notable attractions is the Grutas de Mira de Aire, a network of underground caves that are among the largest in Portugal. Visitors can explore the intricate rock formations and underground lakes, marveling at the natural beauty that has been...