Oldest Whale Bone Tools Found, Dating Back 20,000 Years
2025-05-31
Scientists have unearthed the oldest known evidence of humans using whale bones to make tools, dating back approximately 20,000 years. Discovered in the Bay of Biscay near Spain and France, these narrow projectiles were crafted from the bones of blue whales, fin whales, sperm whales, and other species. Researchers believe ancient humans likely scavenged beached whales, repurposing their bones for hunting reindeer or bison, rather than actively hunting whales themselves. This discovery, published in Nature Communications, highlights the importance of coastal resources for early human survival and pushes back the timeline of whale bone tool use.