Archaeologists in Spain not too long ago printed findings revealing the exceptional contents of bearded vultures’ nests – together with traces of the Center Ages.
The outcomes, printed within the journal Ecology on Sept. 11, centered across the nests of bearded vultures in southern Spain, particularly the mountain ranges of Andalusia.
The species disappeared from southern Spain over 70 years in the past. In a Sept. 18 press launch, the College of Granada (UGR) stated the vultures’ nests “are true natural museums, preserving traces from hundreds of years ago.”
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Throughout his subject work, researcher Sergio Couto and his staff discovered a whole esparto sandal – comprised of esparto grass native to the Mediterranean area – within the nests. The medieval shoe dates again to the late Thirteenth century.
The researcher additionally discovered a fraction of tanned, painted leather-based that “resembl[ed] a mask,” per the college, together with an 18th-century piece of basketry and a crossbow arrow.
Archaeologists in Spain uncovered uncommon artifacts inside bearded vultures’ nests, together with a Thirteenth-century sandal and centuries-old leather-based fragments. (Sergio Couto; Sven Hoppe/image alliance through Getty Pictures)
The vultures’ dwellings additionally held ropes, horse tack and hundreds of bone fragments and eggshells.
The bones belonged to hooved animals — a significant a part of vultures’ diets.
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The discoveries had been made between 2008 and 2014; they weren’t launched to the general public till now.
Of the two,483 artifacts recovered, a whopping 2,117 had been bone fragments.
Researchers documented handmade objects inside bearded vultures’ nests, together with a part of an esparto sling, a fraction of basketry, a bit of painted sheepskin leather-based and a crossbow arrow presumably used as nesting materials. (Sergio Couto)
Greater than 9% of the stays “were of human origin … including 25 esparto-fiber items, 72 leather pieces, 11 made of hair and 129 textile fragments,” UGR stated in a press release.
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It added, “These artifacts resemble those discovered in nearby caves with Neolithic occupation, demonstrating the use of plant fibers in the Iberian Mediterranean since the Epipaleolithic [era], around 12,000 years ago.”
Archaeologists referred to as the vulture nests “true natural museums,” revealing centuries of Iberian cultural and ecological historical past. (Sergio Couto)
“In addition, the eggshell remains provide a unique opportunity for comparative toxicological studies — vital for understanding pesticide exposure and the local extinction history of the bearded vulture. This information is key to the species’ recovery in Europe.”
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UGR credited the secure temperature and humidity circumstances of the caves for preserving the artifacts “in excellent condition.”
“Stratigraphic studies of these nests enrich our understanding of regional ecology while also revealing details about local ethnographic, historical and biocultural contexts,” the college added.
Hundreds of bone fragments recovered from the bearded vultures’ nests belonged largely to hooved animals, reflecting the scavengers’ food plan and providing researchers uncommon perception. (Sergio Couto)
The examine comes months after archaeologists in Norway introduced that they unearthed hundreds of leather-based artifacts in Oslo – together with footwear.
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