Yacimiento Paleontológico de la Carpetana. Estación de Carpetana Metro Madrid

Fourteen million years ago… Can you picture it? Right here, at the Carpetana Metro Station, in the Yacimiento Paleontológico de la Carpetana, roamed ancient creatures. This isn’t just a metro stop. It’s a window into Madrid’s prehistoric past. During renovations in 2008 and 2009, workers unearthed a treasure trove of fossils. Imagine their surprise, uncovering remnants of a world long gone as they dug for new elevators and technical rooms. The Yacimiento Paleontológico de la Carpetana became a tangible link to the Middle Miocene epoch. These fossils weren’t just bones. They were pieces of a puzzle, revealing the diverse ecosystem that thrived here millions of years ago. Think of the Anchitherium, a three-toed horse ancestor, grazing on the lush vegetation. Picture the Amphicyon, a bear-dog, a formidable predator prowling the landscape. And imagine the Cheirogaster, a small, agile rodent, scurrying through the undergrowth. These weren’t the only inhabitants. The excavations uncovered a wide variety of fossilized flora and fauna, painting a vivid picture of a lost world. To celebrate this remarkable discovery, replicas of some of the key fossils are on display in the station’s vestibule. As you pass through the Yacimiento Paleontológico de la Carpetana on your way to catch the metro, take a moment to appreciate these glimpses into Madrid’s deep past. These silent stones whisper stories of a time long before the city we know existed, a time when mastodons and bear-dogs roamed the land that now lies beneath our feet. The Yacimiento Paleontológico de la Carpetana at Carpetana Metro Station isn’t just a stop on your journey. It’s a journey through time.