The landscape of El Condado in Jaén is not merely a backdrop of rolling hills and olive groves; it is a living archive of the Earth’s most dramatic transitions. From the deep, oxidized hues of its “red lands” to the sudden, jagged geometry of its karst formations, the region offers a visceral lesson in deep time. For 80 participants who joined the recent Geolodía excursion, these geological features were more than scenery—they were clues to a prehistoric world.
Organized by the Department of Geology at the University of Jaén (UJA), in collaboration with the Unit of Scientific Culture and Innovation (UCC+i), the event sought to bridge the gap between academic research and public curiosity. Under the theme “Geology of El Condado: Red Lands, Dinosaurs, and Karst,” the guided tour transformed the Comarca del Condado into an open-air classroom, demonstrating that geology is not a static study of rocks, but a dynamic science essential to understanding human settlement and environmental evolution.
The initiative is part of a broader national effort coordinated by the Geological Society of Spain (SGE) to commemorate International Earth Day. By offering free, expert-led tours, the program aims to democratize scientific knowledge, moving it out of the laboratory and into the field where the evidence is etched into the stone.
Tracing Prehistoric Steps in Santisteban del Puerto
The journey began in Santisteban del Puerto, a location of significant paleontological interest. Here, the group encountered one of the region’s most captivating features: dinosaur footprints. These trace fossils, known as ichnites, provide a snapshot of behavior and movement that skeletal remains often cannot. Unlike a bone, which tells us what an animal looked like, a footprint tells us where it went, how fast it moved, and how it interacted with its environment.
The “red lands” characteristic of the area are a result of specific mineral oxidation processes, often associated with ancient river systems or floodplain environments where iron-rich minerals were exposed to oxygen. For the visitors, walking across these vivid soils served as a reminder of the climatic shifts that have occurred over millions of years, turning what was once a lush, prehistoric corridor into the rugged terrain of modern-day Andalusia.
The Karst Architecture of Castellar
The expedition then shifted focus toward the town of Castellar, where the geological narrative moved from the Mesozoic era to the hydrological and human history of the region. The landscape here is defined by karst—a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks, primarily limestone. As rainwater becomes slightly acidic, it carves out intricate networks of caves, sinkholes, and underground channels.
This geological quirk had a direct impact on human civilization. The natural springs and sheltered reliefs created by karst processes provided the first Iberian settlers with two fundamental necessities: reliable water sources and natural fortifications. The group explored how these geological formations acted as a sanctuary and a source of sustenance, effectively dictating the urban planning and survival strategies of the region’s earliest inhabitants.
The intersection of geology and archaeology in Castellar highlights a critical point of the tour: the environment does not just support life; it shapes culture. The strategic placement of Iberian settlements was not random but was a sophisticated response to the karst landscape’s offerings.
Event Coordination and Scientific Leadership
The success of the excursion relied on a multidisciplinary team of researchers and educators. Coordinated by Rosario Jiménez Espinosa, the tour was led by a team of specialized monitors who translated complex geological data into accessible narratives for the public. The guiding team included Ginés Alfonso de Gea, Francisco Juan García Tortosa, Vicente Agustín López Sánchez-Vizcaíno, José Miguel Molina Cámara, Francisco Javier Rey Arrans, Pedro Alejandro Ruiz Ortiz, and África Yebra Rodríguez.
| Location | Primary Geological Feature | Historical/Scientific Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Santisteban del Puerto | Dinosaur Footprints & Red Soils | Evidence of prehistoric migration and mineral oxidation. |
| Castellar | Karst Reliefs & Springs | Natural shelters and water sources for Iberian settlers. |
| El Condado Region | Sedimentary Basins | Broad study of Earth’s stratigraphic evolution in Jaén. |
A Collaborative Effort for Scientific Literacy
While the University of Jaén provided the academic engine for the event, Geolodía is a massive collaborative undertaking. Nationally, the event is driven by the SGE with support from the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) of the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Universities, and the Spanish Association for the Teaching of Earth Sciences (AEPECT).
In the local context of Jaén, the effort was bolstered by the Center for Advanced Studies in Earth Sciences, Energy, and Environment (CEACTEMA), the Official College of Geologists of Andalusia, and the municipal governments of Castellar and Santisteban del Puerto. This network of institutional support underscores the belief that scientific literacy is a collective responsibility, requiring the cooperation of government, academia, and local administration.
By framing geology as “attractive and useful,” the organizers hope to inspire a new generation of students to look at the ground beneath their feet not as dirt, but as a complex data set waiting to be decoded. The event emphasizes that understanding the Earth’s crust is vital for everything from sustainable urban planning to climate change mitigation.
The University of Jaén continues to integrate these field experiences into its outreach strategy, ensuring that the region’s unique geological heritage is preserved and understood. The next phase of these initiatives will likely focus on expanding the mapping of karst systems in the province to better manage water resources in an increasingly arid climate.
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