US EditionOldest Whale Bone Tools Discovered
- Archaeologists led by Jean-Marc Pétillon discovered the oldest known whale bone tools dating from 20,000 to 14,000 years ago along the Bay of Biscay in southwestern Europe.
- These tools originated from whale bones collected opportunistically from whales stranded on Atlantic shores, as active whaling had not developed at the time.
- Researchers examined 83 bone implements alongside 90 additional fragments from 26 locations, employing radiocarbon dating and protein sequencing to identify at least five whale species whose remains were chiefly used to craft projectile points.
- Many radiocarbon dates clustered between 17,500 to 16,000 years ago, suggesting a peak in regional use, with Pétillon noting that Late Paleolithic humans regularly accessed coastal resources.
- The findings imply that prehistoric humans incorporated marine mammals into their toolkits, expanding understanding of their coastal adaptations despite limited active whaling evidence.
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78 Articles
Science Daily
Popular ArchaeologyOldest whale bone tools discovered
Humans were making tools from whale bones as far back as 20,000 years ago, according to a new study. This discovery broadens our understanding of early human use of whale remains and offers valuable insight into the marine ecology of the time.
Whale Bones Used As Hunting Tools By Humans 20,000 Years Ago
Scientists have uncovered the earliest known use of whale bones by humans—dating back over 20,000 years. This reveals our ancestors were far more resourceful than we imagined.The discovery was made along Spain’s northern coast, where more than 60 whale bone fragments—mainly ribs and vertebrae—were found. Many were fashioned into spear tips.“These bones are very rich in fat,” explained Jean-Marc Petillon, lead author of the study, published in Na…
Europeans Were Making Whalebone Tools as Early as 20,000 Years Ago
Thousands of years ago, the coastline of Europe was different from what it is today. Whale bones excavated from ancient shorelines are now providing insight into how people once lived. An international study has revealed that people in Europe were making tools from whale bone as early as 20,000 years ago.
Oldest Whale-Bone Tools Ever Found Rewrite Human History
Your ancestors were hauling massive whale bones up steep cliffs and dragging them miles inland to their cave homes 20,000 years ago. New research reveals that Stone Age humans were systematically using whale products thousands of years earlier than scientists previously believed. The post Oldest Whale-Bone Tools Ever Found Rewrite Human History appeared first on Study Finds.
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