An “extraordinary” stash of 600-year-old treasures has been discovered inside several bearded vulture nests in the southern Spanish mountains, archaeologists have revealed. The medieval artefacts include a crossbow bolt, a slingshot, and a decorated piece of leather, some dating back to around 1375.
Bearded vultures have been extinct in the region for between 70 and 130 years, but their nests have remained remarkably well-preserved due to their construction in protected sites such as cliff caves. Scientists described these nests as “natural museums” that conserved historical material in good condition.
The study, published in the journal Ecology, analysed 12 bearded vulture nests layer by layer, uncovering 2,483 remains including bone, eggshell, esparto grass items, hooves, leather, hair, and cloth. Esparto grass finds included shoes, ropes, basketry, horse tacks, and slingshots, while other artefacts included sandals made from grass and twigs, a wooden lance, and a piece of fabric.
Researchers said such discoveries can help understand human practices, technological development, and shifts in material culture. Similar artefacts found across the Iberian peninsula show that humans have used plant fibres to make a wide variety of items since the Epipaleolithic period around 12,000 years ago.
The bearded vulture is the most threatened vulture species in Europe, with only 309 breeding pairs left. The study’s authors noted that understanding the feeding habits and nest-site selection of past birds could be significant for recovering the species in Europe, helping to inform conservation efforts and site selection for releases.
