Fossil Trees of Hacinas, about 120 million years old
In the village of Hacinas (Segovia), fossilized trees emerge from the past—fragments of coniferous trees petrified about 120 million years ago, when the Iberian Peninsula had a warm and humid climate, and dinosaurs roamed the earth.
The Fossil Trees of Hacinas
Displayed in four specimens next to the church, these petrified trunks come from ancient conifer forests that once grew in river plains. Their rings and veins, transformed into siliceous stone, preserve the details of the original wood.
Discovery and Findings
The first pieces appeared in the 1940s, but it was in August 1976 that a mechanical shovel unearthed the most spectacular specimens. Local shepherds had already used pieces of this "stone wood" to fence pastures, unaware of its prehistoric origin.
Geological Context
- Age: Lower Cretaceous (~120 Ma).
- Original Environment: subtropical river valleys.
- Fossilization Process: burial under sediments and gradual replacement of organic material by silica.
Fossil Tree Visitor Center
Since 2009, the Visitor Center recreates that lost world: it features models of fossil forests, showcases of silicified wood, and panels explaining Spanish fossil sites and the world’s great petrified forests.
How to Visit Hacinas
- Location: Plaza de la Iglesia, Hacinas.
- Hours: April–October, 10:00–14:00 and 16:00–19:00; November–March, 10:00–14:00.
- Admission: Free; guided tours available every hour.
- Access: a short walk from the town center (2 minutes); all elements are outdoors.
Come see these witnesses from prehistory, contemplate their petrified veins, feel the pulse of a world of conifers and dinosaurs, and discover in Hacinas the fossilized trace of a long-lost past.
How to get there
Decimal: 41.985000°, -3.286944°
DMS: 41°59'06" N, 3°17'13" O
