The First Europeans: Treasures from the Hills of Atapuerca is co-organized by the American Museum of Natural History and Junta de Castilla y León, Spain.

Castilla y León, the largest autonomous region in Spain, contains more than 50 percent of the country's historical and artistic patrimony, as well as the largest number of UNESCO world heritage sites. The history of this 100,000-square-kilometer region, the largest in western Europe, stretches back one million years. It was in Atapuerca where evidence of western Europe's first inhabitants was unearthed. The First Europeans: Treasures from the Hills of Atapuerca is one of several events in New York City—scheduled for winter 2003—collectively called "Treasures of Castilla y León," that will bring the cultural richness of the region to American audiences.