UAB researchers bring the Cova del Tabac site closer to the public
The Centre for the Study of Prehistoric Archaeological Heritage of the Department of Prehistory (CEPAP-UAB) will highlight the archaeological heritage of the Tabac Cave (Camarasa) site through a new interactive exhibition that connects heritage, technology and society. The exhibition “Traces of a New World: The First Neolithic People of the Tabac Cave” will be carried out with the support of a social impact grant from the Government of Catalonia (IMPACTE), which promotes equality, sustainability and open science as cross-cutting themes.
The project aims to disseminate knowledge about the first Neolithic groups of the Pre-Pyrenees while contributing to the economic and cultural revitalisation of the territory through scientific tourism. The exhibition, which will be located at the Espai Orígens visitor reception centre in Camarasa, will incorporate digital reconstructions, immersive virtual reality experiences, and reproductions of archaeological materials recovered from the excavations of the site. All with the aim of allowing visitors to delve into the daily life of the ancient inhabitants of the cave.
The exhibition is divided into four thematic areas: the natural environment and landscape, the formation of the cave's karst system, the creation of the cave paintings, and the identity of the Neolithic groups. The experience will combine ICT resources and interactive elements to promote learning and public participation.
True to its commitment to sustainability and inclusion, the Department of Prehistory has prepared a sustainable exhibition design, based on recyclable materials and with low environmental impact, while guaranteeing universal accessibility through easy and inclusive language and programming activities adapted to groups at risk of social exclusion. All data and research results will be published in open access, following the principles of open science to ensure transparency and the social return of knowledge.
With this initiative, the Tabac Cave site and the Espai Orígens are consolidated as key spaces for the dissemination of heritage in the Noguera region, putting scientific transfer and citizen participation at the service of collective memory and sustainable development. The exhibition, which has a budget of €25,000, is scheduled to open in the spring of 2027.