Scientists have recently discovered 20,000-year-old tools made from whale bones in sites around the Bay of Biscay in Spain and France. This groundbreaking discovery, detailed in a study published on May 27, 2025, in the journal 'Nature Communications', offers valuable insights into the relationships between early humans and marine mammals.
The research team, which included scientists from ICTA-UAB, CNRS, and the University of British Columbia, analyzed 83 bone tools and 90 additional bones. Using mass spectrometry and radiocarbon dating, they identified the bones as belonging to at least five large whale species, including sperm, fin, blue, gray, and right or bowhead whales.
Archaeologist Jean-Marc Petillon noted that the oldest tools date back approximately 19,000 to 20,000 years, predating agriculture. This represents the earliest evidence of humans utilizing whale remains for tool creation. The tools, primarily spear points and shafts, highlight the resourcefulness of Paleolithic hunter-gatherers and their dependence on marine resources for survival.