Prehistoric Whale Bone Tools Unearthed in France and Spain
Archaeologists Uncover Remains of Ancient Human Use of Whale Bones for Crafting Objects
Researchers have discovered a collection of prehistoric bone tools, fashioned from whale bones between 14,000 and 20,000 years old, along the Bay of Biscay. These tools, which were primarily used to hunt land animals and potentially in fishing activities, mark the oldest known evidence of whale bone working.
Over the years, scientists have speculated that prehistoric bone tools, vastly used for hunting reindeer and bison, were crafted from whale bones. However, recent findings have confirmed this theory, identifying 71 out of 83 bone tools as being made from cetaceans, including sperm, fin, blue, gray, right, and bowhead whales.
The researchers analyzed collagen protein sequences to determine the animal origin of the tools. Most notably, they reported that the tools were harvested from whales that had stranded along the present-day Spanish and French coasts. The simple tools provide insights into the interaction of prehistoric societies with their marine environment.
These findings, published in Nature Communications, reveal that prehistoric societies likely acquired whale bones through passive methods, taking advantage of natural strandings rather than engaging in complex technologies such as seafaring or multi-barbed points for harpoon purposes. Surprisingly, they found that prehistoric people had a particular interest in sperm whale bones, although the reasons for this preference remain unknown.
Additionally, stone age inhabitants used the whale bones not only for tools but also as a dietary component. Researchers found fragments of whale bones that were seemingly crushed to extract the nutritious, fatty oil within. Furthermore, the presence of whale barnacles suggests the use of the whale's skin and meat by prehistoric societies.
Jean-Marc Pétillon, one of the study's authors, expressed his excitement, stating, "The most exciting thing for me is to shed light on how much the sea, and the sea animals, might also have been important for the people at that time."
The study offers valuable insights into the marine ecology and human-whale relationships during the Stone Age, demonstrating the significance of marine resources in the diet and lifestyle of ancient societies. Yet, further research is needed to fully understand these intricate relationships and their implications for the future.
- The remarkable discoveries of prehistoric bone tools, primarily crafted for hunting land animals and fishing, have sparked interest in environmental science, prompting discussions about the influence of nature on early human societies and their reliance on marine resources.
- In the realm of technology, these findings challenge previous beliefs about the simplicity of prehistoric toolmaking, suggesting that ancient societies may have exploited environmental phenomena, such as whale strandings, as a passive means of acquiring materials, rather than relying on complextechnologies like seafaring or advanced hunting tools.
