Atapuerca, Province of Burgos

Atapuerca (Spanish pronunciation: [ataˈpweɾka]) is a municipality and town located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. It encompasses the Archaeological Site of Atapuerca and is famous for its prehistoric archaeological sites.[2] The municipality of Atapuerca is made up of two villages: Atapuerca (seat or capital) and Olmos de Atapuerca.

Atapuerca
Municipality and town
View of Atapuerca, 2009
Flag
Seal
Municipal location of Atapuerca in Burgos province
CountrySpain
Autonomous communityCastile and León
ProvinceBurgos
ComarcaAlfoz de Burgos
Government
 • MayorRaquel Torrientes Burgos (People's Party)
Area
 • Total25 km2 (10 sq mi)
Elevation
953 m (3,127 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total172
 • Density6.9/km2 (18/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
09199
Websitewww.atapuerca.es

The small town plays host to an annual cross country running event—the Cross de Atapuerca—which attracts over 2000 runners each year.[3]

Atapuerca is also on The French Way (Spanish: Camino Francés) on the Camino de Santiago.

For a while the Spanish Army had an armour (tank) training facility nearby.

History

The massif just outside of town was the site of the Battle of Atapuerca in 1054.

In 1899 construction of a railway unveiled several significant archaeological sites at Atapuerca.[2] The railway proved uneconomic and closed in the twentieth century.

On November 30, 2000, Atapuerca was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is unique in Europe in allowing archaeologists to follow the evolution of the first human beings to inhabit the European continent.

Economy

According to the 2005 census (INE), the municipality had a population of 195 inhabitants.

Apart from the typical dryland farming of the region, the municipality now has the economic resources generated because of the presence of the archaeological site and its associated services. 15% of the active population have a job related to tourism; since the 1990s this "tertiarization" of their economy has reversed depopulation, rejuvenating the population and placing the average age in 42 years.[4] Directly related, the creation of employment that has been derived from this type of actions, has had a positive social impact in society.[5]

References
  1. Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. TURESPAÑA (2007-04-23). "Tourism in Atapuerca in Burgos, Spain". Spain.info. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  3. Spain's Bezabeh claims second at Cross de Atapuerca; Monteiro takes bronze in women's race. European Athletics (2009-11-08). European Athletic Association. Retrieved on 2009-11-16.
  4. "3. Creation of economic and demographic development". Social Impact Open Repository. Archived from the original on 2017-09-05.
  5. "1. Creation of employment". Social Impact Open Repository. September 5, 2017. Archived from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-05.


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