Scientists date the oldest known tools made from whale bones to 20,000 years ago
May 27, 2025
Scientists have pinpointed the oldest known evidence of humans making tools from whale bone. The bones, fashioned into narrow projectiles for hunting reindeer or bison, had been uncovered in excavations dating back over a century in the Bay of Biscay near Spain and France. Technological advancements in the past decade have now made it possible to date the oldest of the tools to about 20,000 years ago. The instruments indicate that ancient humans in the area took advantage of resources near the sea for survival. The research was published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.
