What is the story about?
What's Happening?
Researchers have discovered artefacts dating back 650 years in the nests of bearded vultures in southern Spain. The study involved analyzing 12 nests between 2008 and 2014, revealing thousands of remains including hooves, hair, cloth, eggshell, and bone. Fascinating objects found include a basketry fragment from the 18th century, sheep leather from around 650 years ago, and a complete sandal believed to be 674 years old. The discovery opens the door to ethnographic approaches, providing insights into human customs and ecological changes over time.
Why It's Important?
The discovery of historical artefacts in bird nests offers a unique perspective on human history and ecological changes. It highlights the potential for using nests as a comparative framework for examining ecosystems and human practices over time. The findings can inform conservation efforts for the bearded vulture, a species threatened in Europe, by providing information on potential distribution and release sites. The research emphasizes the importance of integrating ecological and ethnographic approaches to understand the interactions between humans and wildlife.
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