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An extraordinary discovery was made at the Valencina Copper Age mega-site in southwest Spain, which has captured the attention of a team of Spanish researchers—a rare sperm whale tooth uncovered in 2018 during excavations at the Nueva Biblioteca sector.

This rare find, dating back to a 5,300- to 4,150-year-old mega-village, is the first of its kind ever recorded in Late Prehistoric Iberia, according to in PLOS One.

The tooth belonging to the whale was probably found along the coast after spending time underwater, as shown by tiny bioerosion marks left by sea creatures. The researchers suggest that after it was collected, the tooth was carefully worked on by Copper Age craftspeople, possibly to extract pieces from it to craft personal ornaments or symbolically meaningful artifacts.

Once done with the work, the tooth was deliberately reburied in the pit, causing the roots and soil to create further wear and tear, also forming a hard crust over its surface.

Humans have been using and transforming ivory into ornaments, musical instruments and sculptures ever since the Old Stone Age, which began almost 40,000 years ago. Apart from its striking appearance, ivory's durability and strength made it a priced commodity which became an integral part of trade and socio-cultural activities of ancient societies.

Most of what is known about Europe's ivory imprint from prehistoric times comes from terrestrial animals, such as elephants, hippos, deer, and bears. Studies have well documented the widespread use and cultural importance of elephant ivory in the Neolithic and Copper Age societies of southern Spain.

In contrast, not much is known about the use and significance of marine mammal remains, but this sperm whale tooth—weighing over half a kilogram, standing at 17 cm tall and 7 cm wide— provided an opportunity to change that by offering a valuable glimpse into the past.

Researchers integrated techniques from biology, geology, and archaeology to gain a comprehensive understanding of the rare sperm whale tooth.

They conducted taphonomic analysis, which revealed the sequence of events between the time of death and the discovery of the body, thereby helping to reconstruct the context of the find.

The results revealed that the tooth belonged to an adult sperm whale and showed evidence of bioerosion from worms and barnacles, as well as bite marks likely caused by sharks, indicating time spent on the seafloor.

They also carried out 3D modeling of the tooth to ensure every subtle surface feature and morphology of the specimen could be examined without damaging it.

They identified clear signs of human activity on the tooth, including drilled holes and distinct cut marks that are not naturally occurring and differ from those made by marine organisms.

The evidence also suggests that the whale likely died of natural causes, following which its body sank to the seafloor, and it wasn't hunted for anthropogenic purposes.

The researchers note that the discovery of this piece highlighted that the sea played a key role in the lives and beliefs of communities around Valencina in the 3rd millennium BC.

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