Vértesszőlős

Welcome to Vértesszőlős, a site that fundamentally alters our understanding of human prehistory in Europe. Situated in Komárom-Esztergom County, tucked away in an unassuming landscape that was once a bustling travertine quarry,…

Our first stop focuses on the geological canvas that made the preservation of this entire site possible: the massive travertine and calc-tuff formations. As you look at the exposed, sheer rock faces surrounding us, you are…

We now stand at the most hallowed point of the excavation: the exact locus where the fossilized remains of 'Samu' were pulled from the earth. In the annals of paleoanthropology, the discovery made here in nineteen sixty-five is…

Moving slightly away from the hominid remains, we arrive at a feature that is arguably even more evocative and rare: the preserved prehistoric footprints. Fossilized bones tell us about anatomy, but footprints tell us about…

We now direct our attention to the strata containing the ancient hearths, one of the most culturally significant discoveries at Vértesszőlős. Scattered among the tool fragments and animal bones, archaeologists identified distinct…

Adjacent to the hearths, we examine the technological output of the Vértesszőlős inhabitants: the pebble tool industry. While the famous Acheulean handaxes were being crafted in other parts of the world, the hominids here…

Our final section brings us to the protective Museum Pavilion that now shelters the most critical excavation areas. This modern structure serves a dual purpose: it acts as a physical shield against the erosive forces of wind,…

As we conclude our audio journey through Vértesszőlős, we are forced to grapple with the overwhelming scale of human history. The three hundred and fifty thousand years that separate us from 'Samu' represent a span of time that…