What a 5,000-year-old whale tooth tells us about ancient craftspeople

• A rare sperm whale tooth, discovered at the Copper Age Valencina archaeological site in southwest Spain, offers new insights into ancient Iberian artistry.
• This fossil, dated to between 5,300 and 4,150 years ago, is the first marine mammal tooth of its kind found from this period in Iberia.
• Copper Age craftspeople likely collected the tooth from an ancient shoreline and fashioned it into personal ornaments or symbolic artifacts before its deliberate burial.
• Analysis revealed the tooth belonged to an adult sperm whale, showing signs of natural marine erosion and distinct human modifications like drilled holes and cut marks.
• The discovery significantly enhances understanding of ivory use in prehistoric times.

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Rare whale tooth fossil reveals secrets of ancient Iberian people