Archaeologists working at the Valencina Copper-Age site in southwestern Spain have uncovered a large sperm whale tooth — the first of its kind in Late Prehistoric Iberia. The tooth, likely retrieved from the coast and later deposited in the settlement, bears evidence of human modification. It may have been used as a symbolic or decorative object rather than just functional ivory, indicating long-range marine resource use and cultural connections between coastal and inland communities. The finding challenges assumptions about prehistoric trade and resource exploitation in Bronze Age Europe.
Source: Phys.org / PLoS One
Link: https://phys.org/news/2025-06-rare-sperm-whale-tooth-unearthed.html
Discovery of a Rare Sperm Whale Tooth at Copper-Age Iberian Megasite
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