A New Home for Ideas: the Kusuma Trust Conference Suite
16 October 2026 | NEWS
Drawing on one of Europe’s most remarkable records of Neanderthal occupation, Gibraltar’s Mousterian sites including Gorham’s and Vanguard Caves, Prof Finlayson explored how fossil, charcoal, pollen and geomorphological evidence reveal a dynamic coastal landscape that Neanderthals inhabited from 125,000 to 34,000 years ago.
During the talk, attendees were shown images of fossilised footprints of Neanderthals and other animal species such as elephants, preserved on what was once an expansive coastal plain. Through several years of research and multiple scientific publications, these tracks have helped illuminate how Neanderthals moved across this landscape and how they interacted with the animals that shared it.
By integrating palaeoecological records with modern analogues from Doñana National Park, the lecture reconstructed seasonal and hydrological patterns of the ancient ecosystem, offering a vivid perspective on Neanderthal behaviour within a uniquely rich Mediterranean environment.
A fascinating journey into Gibraltar’s deep past.
Our sincere thanks to Prof Finlayson for sharing her research, and to all who attended for engaging with this remarkable talk.
