650-year-old slipper in vulture's nest reveals historical secrets

Discover a 650-year-old slipper and many artifacts in a bearded vulture nest in Spain, opening up a perspective on the ancient life and extinction of the species.

Researchers have discovered more than 200 human-made artifacts in bearded vulture nests in southern Spain. Among them, they paid particular attention to a 650-year-old slipper woven mainly from grass. Photo: Antoni Margalida.

Bearded vultures became extinct in southern Spain between 70 and 130 years ago. However, their nests, located high on mountain slopes, are largely intact. Photo: Antoni Margalida.

Researchers studied records combined with accounts from older local residents to locate bearded vulture nests in Spain. Photo: Antoni Margalida.

Accordingly, experts examined 12 different locations and found bone fragments, eggshells and many human artifacts in bearded vulture nests. Photo: Sergio Couto.

Therefore, researchers have called bearded vulture nests "natural museums" because they preserve many artifacts almost intact over many centuries. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Bearded vultures nest on the walls of rocky caves, which have never been touched by humans and have a cool, dry microclimate, creating excellent natural preservation conditions for artifacts. Photo: Sergio Couto.

The majority of artifacts found in the nests were related to the bearded vulture's main diet of animal bones. Specifically, they found 2,117 bone fragments and 86 hooves, along with 43 eggshell fragments. Bearded vultures are the only vertebrates on Earth that eat primarily bones. Photo: Sergio Couto.

Only 9% of the artifacts found in the bearded vulture nests were man-made. They found 72 pieces of leather, 129 pieces of cloth, and 25 items made from esparto grass. These artifacts ranged in age from 150 to 750 years old. Photo: Credit: David Ruh.

One remarkable artifact found in the nest was a complete sandal that was at least 650 years old. The sandals were made from grass and twigs. Photo: ntonia Margalida/Sergio Couto; modified by IFLScience.

Readers are invited to watch the video : Revealing lost civilizations through archaeological remains.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/chiec-dep-650-nam-tuoi-trong-to-ken-ken-tiet-lo-bi-mat-lich-su-post2149062660.html