Researchers studying vultures’ nests find more than just eggs: ancient artifacts discovered
When you go investigating for one discovery and much more is found, it really can feel like valuable treasure.
In the craggy cliffs of southern Spain, scientists searching for the remains of a bone-eating bird stumbled upon an unexpected archaeological trove. While studying bearded vulture nests between 2008 and 2014, researchers uncovered more than 200 human-made objects – some dating back to the Middle Ages – preserved within the layered structures.
Artifact over 700 years old
The findings, published in Ecology, reveal that the bearded vulture’s cliffside nests, used by successive generations for centuries, act as what they call “natural museums.” Carbon dating placed one woven sandal at more than 700 years old, making it the oldest artifact yet found. Other discoveries included a crossbow bolt, fragments of medieval leather resembling a mask, a basket from the 18th century, and horse rigging, items likely scavenged by the birds for nest construction.
“These sites, used for centuries, are quality locations that different generations have used for breeding,” said lead author Antoni Margalida of Spain’s Pyrenean Institute of Ecology. “They can also give us information about how people dressed, hunted, and lived.”
Are bearded vultures at risk?
Bearded vultures, known for their diet of bones – up to 90% of their intake – build their homes in rocky caves with stable temperature and humidity, creating ideal conditions for preservation. The species, nearly wiped out in parts of Spain more than a century ago, is now listed as near threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Experts say the study offers a rare glimpse into the intertwined history of humans and wildlife. “Bearded vultures are now recognized as recording artists of human history,” said John Fitzpatrick, emeritus director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “They remind us how even the wildest creatures can become unintentional archivists of our past.”
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