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Hoard of 600-year-old treasure found in vulture nests

A bearded vultureAntoni Margalida

Scientists have discovered over 200 medieval artefacts in an unlikely place - vulture nests.

The amazing hoard of 600-year-old treasures were found in the abandoned nests of bearded vultures in Spain.

Sandals, a crossbow bolt and part of a slingshot were discovered - with some pieces dating as far back as 1375.

Although once widespread in the region, it's thought there are only around 300 breeding pairs of bearded vultures (Gypaetus barbatus) remaining in Europe.

Hundreds of years ago, the species was very common in the mountains of Spain in particular.

The vultures made their nests on edges of cliffs - and, sheltered from the weather, the nests remained long after the birds had gone.

Vulture nest - An example of an ancient Bearded Vulture nest examined, occupied by this species over centuries and easily identified by the outstanding abundance of anthropogenic items made of esparto grass and, typically, solidified white droppings.Sergio Couto

What did they find in the vultures' nests?

As well as more traditional nesting material, experts found cloth, string and other human-made materials.

In Southern Spain scientists looked at 12 vulture nests.

The authors of the study, published in the journal Ecology, found bones and hooves - a result of the vultures' - diet and eggshells in the nests.

But the most interesting finds were an "abundant and well-preserved" hoard of medieval items - 2,483 objects in total.

A collection of handcrafted materials found in ancient Bearded Vulture nests. (A) Part of an esparto grass slingshot. (B) A detail of a crossbow bolt and its wooden lance. (C) Agobía (Sierra Nevada, Granada), a rough footwear made of several species of grass and twigs, C-14 dated at 674 ± 22 years Before Present (ETH-138982). Agobías typically lasted for a few days of wear and were continuously repaired and replaced by hand by the wearer. (D) A basketry fragment C-14 dated at 151 ± 22 years Before Present (ETH-138980). (E) A piece of sheep leather C-14 dated at 651 ± 22 years Before Present (ETH-138981) with red lines drawn, and (F) a piece of fabric. Scale bars are in centimeters. Photographs: Sergio Couto (A, B, D, and F) and Lucía Agudo Pérez (C and E).Sergio Couto (A, B, D, and F) and Lucía Agudo Pérez (C and E)

A collection of the items discovered including a crossbow bolt (B), a sandal made from grass and twigs (C) and a 151-year-old basket fragment (D)

The Middle Ages, or medieval period, lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries.

This hoard of medieval treasures included a sandal, constructed from a type of thick grass called esparto grass, made 674 years ago in the late 14th century.

Other items made from the grass included part of a slingshot and a piece of basket.

The team also found a 650-year-old decorated piece of sheep leather, a crossbow bolt, a piece of a slingshot and other historical items.

It seems the bearded vulture nests have played a big part in preserving these items.

"Thanks to the solidity of bearded vulture nest structures and their locations in the western Mediterranean generally in protected places such as caves… they have acted as natural museums, conserving historical material in good condition," the study authors report.