La Retama preserves an abundant fossil fauna that includes gastropods and vertebrates such as chelonians, crocodiles, lagomorphs, rodents, several carnivorans, anchitheriine equids, rhinoceroses, gomphoteriid elephants, caenotheriids, suids, cervids and palaeomerycids.

The “Virgen del Pilar” was within five hundred yards of the harbour's mouth, when six sakers, charged now with langrel, chain and cross-bar, swept her decks with murderous effect and some damage to her shrouds.

Not surprisingly, different cultures discovered the suitability of various rock types for manufacturing querns and millstones.

Rose was three seconds behind, but managed to catch up with the race leader and eventually won.