Zafarraya is known for a Neanderthal mandible found in a cave (Cueva del Boquete) in 1983 by Cecilio Barroso and Paqui Medina.

The mandible has been dated to 30,000 years Before Present (BP), and at the time represented the youngest-known Neanderthal remains.

[2][3] Near the mandible, Mousterian tools dated to 27,000 years BP were found.

The find was one of the first pieces of definite evidence showing that the presence of Neanderthals and modern humans overlapped in Europe for a significant period.

During the Andalusian earthquake of 25 December 1884, more than 30% of the houses in Zafarraya collapsed and 53% were badly damaged, some of which fell during aftershocks.