La Canonja inaugurates the Espai Mammuthus, a new archaeological and scientific reference centre with international projection
An interactive interpretation centre that combines cutting-edge technology with original remains from 29 species and prehistoric stone tools
This Friday marked the official opening of the Espai Mammuthus, the new Interpretation Centre of the Barranc de la Boella Archaeological Site — a pioneering project that aims to position La Canonja as a major cultural and scientific hub on both a national and international scale.
Located at the Hort del Mas de l’Abeurador, the new facility spans 1,000 m² in a privileged natural setting. The centre was created with the goal of preserving, studying, and promoting the discoveries made at the Barranc de la Boella site — a key location for understanding human evolution in Europe.
The site, systematically excavated since 2007, is directed by Dr. Palmira Saladié and Dr. Josep Vallverdú, researchers at IPHES-CERCA, who have led the scientific and conservation work at the site for nearly two decades.
“We are opening a new chapter in a journey that began one million years ago,” said Dr. Palmira Saladié, emphasising the symbolic significance of opening a public space devoted to the research and dissemination of the palaeontological heritage of La Boella.
The researcher also dedicated this moment to key figures in the project’s history: “We would like to dedicate this space to Eudald Carbonell, the soul of IPHES-CERCA, and to all the people who have worked closely with us over the past eighteen years, especially Miquel Guardiola and Francisco Guerra, who are no longer with us but remain an essential part of the site’s history.”
The event was attended by a broad representation of public institutions, including the Spanish Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, and the Mayor of La Canonja, Roc Muñoz. They were joined by Marina Miquel, Deputy Director-General of Architectural, Archaeological and Palaeontological Heritage at the Catalan Ministry of Culture, along with other representatives from the Catalan and Spanish governments, the Congress of Deputies, the Parliament of Catalonia, and leading institutions from across the region.
Following a formal reception at the Town Hall, the authorities walked to the Espai Mammuthus, where a commemorative plaque was unveiled and a guided tour of the new facility took place. The ceremony continued with a lecture by renowned archaeologist and palaeontologist Eudald Carbonell, followed by the screening of several educational videos that highlight both the value of the site and the creation process of the centre.
A scientific and museographic benchmark
The Espai Mammuthus is much more than a museum: it is an interactive interpretation centre designed for families, school groups and specialist audiences. It features touchscreen displays, audiovisual content, and showcases with original fossils of great palaeontological value, such as mammoth tusks, hippopotamus remains, and stone tools attributed to early hominins.
The centre is organised into thematic areas that guide visitors through the site’s most important discoveries, while introducing the context of the findings and the current research being carried out. The visit concludes with an immersive experience on human evolution. The exhibition includes a wide range of educational and interactive museographic resources tailored to different audiences, combining advanced technology with reconstructions, audiovisuals, original fossils — including mammoth tusks unearthed at the site —, hands-on replicas, and sound effects.
The tour begins inside the historic Mas de l’Hort de l’Abeurador building, continues outdoors with workshops and experimental activities related to prehistory, and ends in a landscaped area with a picnic and recreational zone in the open air.
The Barranc de la Boella site, known since the late 19th century and excavated systematically since 2007 by IPHES-CERCA, is one of the most important archaeological sites in Europe due to its age — over one million years — and the significance of its finds, which have challenged existing paradigms of early human dispersal across the continent.
A commitment to science and culture in the region
La Canonja Town Council has led this project in collaboration with the Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA) and top-tier museum design companies, with the aim of establishing a space devoted to scientific knowledge and public outreach. With the creation of the Espai Mammuthus, the municipality positions itself as a benchmark in heritage and science education, and takes a major step towards building a cultural hub that will soon be expanded with the construction of a digital planetarium on the same site.