Abrigo de la Quebrada

The Abrigo de la Quebrada is an archaeological site in the municipality of Chelva, in the Spanish Province of Valencia, ca. 65 km northwest of the city of Valencia [1]. It shows evidence of frequent occupation by Neanderthals [1]. The site is on the left bank of a small ravine, the Barranco de Ahillas; it is a rock shelter between 2 and 9 meters deep, and 38 meters long, facing the northwest [1]. Because of the lack of direct sunshine and its exposure, the site was occupied only from June to October, according to Phytoliths and other evidence, including the reuse and resharpening of stone tools [1]. The deposit is around 3 meters thick, and is divided into eight units by archaeologists [1]. Flint tools found at the site give evidence of extensive traffic of Neanderthal populations in the area [1]. While much of the flint was procured locally, some of it came from over 100 kilometers away; knapping was done also by way of the Levallois technique [1].