Devil's Tower
Torre del Diablo
Part of Fortifications of Gibraltar
Devil's Tower Road, Gibraltar
1727 plan of Devil's Tower and Mill Tower.
Devil's Tower is located in Gibraltar
Devil's Tower
Devil's Tower
Coordinates36°08′46″N 5°20′30″W / 36.146143°N 5.341701°W / 36.146143; -5.341701
TypeWatchtower
Site information
ConditionDemolished
Site history
Demolished1940

The Devil's Tower was an ancient watchtower in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar close to a rock shelter where fossil remains of a Neanderthal child were discovered, together with palaeolithic tools. The Tower and remains, however, were unrelated.

Construction

1865 model of the Rock of Gibraltar showing the location of the Devil's Tower in the bottom right of the photo.

The tower was constructed in limestone. It was demolished in 1940 during World War II[1] on the orders of Governor General Sir Noel Mason-Macfarlane on the grounds that it was in the line of fire of one of Gibraltar's many guns.[2]

Devil's Tower skull

The Devil's Tower skull was that of a Neanderthal child. The remains were excavated by Dorothy Garrod in a Mousterian shelter on the site.[3] There is evidence of an injury to the mouth, and the teeth show developmental disorders consistent with seasonal starvation. The classic Neanderthal large brain case is evident and the brow ridges have started to develop. The skull substantially reinforced the evidence of the Neanderthals of Gibraltar.

Most of the lower jaw has survived, along with the frontal bone, most of the right side of the face and the left parietal bone.

Eponymy

The tower gave its name to the Devil's Tower Camp, the Devils Tower Emplacement, Devil's Tower Road and other nearby places.

References

  1. ↑ "East side". DiscoverGibraltar.com. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  2. ↑ Chipulina, Neville. "The People of Gibraltar". Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  3. ↑ Garrod et al., 1928


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