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Sep 18 - Garcia Opens Calpe Conference 2014

calpe conference Speaking at the opening of the Calpe Conference this morning, Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Garcia touched heavily upon the bid for Gibraltar’s Neanderthal caves as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is set to be submitted in January. He noted that the conference, which includes lectures on World Heritage, and its competitive advantage, and how a study of our ancestors can enhance our modern society, ‘bring together leaders in their respective fields of human evolution and world heritage, two apparently disparate fields which are being brought together in this forum.’


Commenting further on the World Heritage bid Dr. Garcia noted that UNESCO is looking to make the World Heritage list balanced and representative of universal heritage. ‘So it would seem that there are good grounds for thinking that our efforts to include our own Neanderthal caves will stand an excellent chance and will make a contribution towards balancing the World Heritage list,’ the Deputy Chief Minister added.

He also explained, to a John Mackintosh Hall full of delegates and a wide variation of speakers, that if Gibraltar is seeking truly universal heritage ‘of all is that which precisely embraces, in the language of that father of anthropology Claude Levi-Strauss, those universals. What better starting point than the heritage of all humanity, well before states and national boundaries crept in?’

He touched upon Gorham’s and Vanguard’s caves, describing that a large body of evidence has been found there, including the way of life of Neanderthals in favourable climactic and ecological conditions, ‘including unique and exceptional examples of the exploitation of birds and marine mammals for food. Two of the caves – Gorham’s and Vanguard - have provided exceptional evidence of Neanderthal cognitive capacities, including the first and only known rock engraving and evidence of the systematic use of raptor feathers for ornamentation.  Raised beaches, scree slopes and dunes provide an exceptional record of two million years of Earth history in 426 metres, from sea level to the highest peak of the Rock.  This record illustrates how land was exposed and covered by sea level rise and fall, some caves now being partly submerged and others offshore lying in the sea bed.  Exceptionally, given the abrupt relief, some caves – most notably Gorham’s and Vanguard - were not inundated by the sea and retained significant deposits covering the past 125,000 years.’

Dr. Garcia’s speech reminded the audience of the government’s dedication and commitment to the protection of these sites. He explained that there a plans to develop the matter as a tourist product by developing unique Neanderthal Park ‘where the story of these people, now extinct, is told in a manner which is accessible to all publics.’ He moved on to welcome all the speakers.