An “extraordinary” collection of 600-year-old artefacts has been discovered in the nests of bearded vultures in the southern Spanish mountains. Archaeologists examining the sites uncovered medieval items, including a crossbow bolt, a slingshot, and a decorated piece of leather, some dating back to around 1375. It appears the birds incorporated these objects into their nests alongside more conventional materials.
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Bearded vultures have been extinct in the region for between 70 and 130 years, but scientists note that their nests have remained remarkably well-preserved. The birds typically built in protected locations, such as cliff caves, which researchers describe as “natural museums”. The study, published in the journal Ecology, examined 12 nests and uncovered a total of 2,483 remains, including bones, eggshell fragments, esparto grass items, hooves, leather, hair, and cloth.
Items made from esparto grass included shoes, ropes, basketry, horse tacks, and slingshots, while archaeologists also recovered grass-and-twig sandals, a wooden lance, decorated sheep leather, and fabric. Similar artefacts found across the Iberian Peninsula suggest humans have used plant fibres to produce a wide variety of items since the Epipalaeolithic period, around 12,000 years ago. The discoveries offer valuable insight into past human practices, technological development, and shifts in material culture.
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The bearded vulture is now Europe’s most threatened vulture species, with just 309 breeding pairs remaining, following intense persecution during the 19th and 20th centuries. Researchers note that understanding historical feeding habits and nest-site selection is crucial for conservation efforts. “This information is of the utmost importance for the recovery of the species at the European level, for example in selecting suitable release sites or prioritising habitat conservation,” the study’s authors wrote.
