The oldest human occupation recorded so far at Lagar Velho happened 29,000 years ago, when a group of hunter-gatherers used a recess in the back wall of the rockshelter to bury a child who died during its fifth year of life. This event occurred during a temporary occupation of the site, related to domestic activities, as suggested by the remains that have been excavated a few metres west of the burial space. Over the following millennia, the site continued to be visited by other Upper Palaeolithic generations, at least until 24,000 years ago. Regrettably, the site's history was truncated by the claws of a backhoe. However, this did bring to light one of the most important and emblematic finds of European Prehistory.