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Observer
3 days ago
- Science
- Observer
Tools made of whale bones reveal inventiveness of prehistoric people
Artifacts found at archeological sites in France and Spain along the Bay of Biscay shoreline show that humans have been crafting tools from whale bones since more than 20,000 years ago, illustrating anew the resourcefulness of prehistoric people. The tools, primarily hunting implements such as projectile points, were fashioned from the bones of at least five species of large whales, the researchers said. Bones from sperm whales were the most abundant, followed by fin whales, gray whales, right or bowhead whales - two species indistinguishable with the analytical method used in the study - and blue whales. With seafaring capabilities by humans not developing until thousands of years later, the Ice Age hunter-gatherers who made these implements would have been unable to actually hunt whales for their resources in the Bay of Biscay, a gulf of the Atlantic Ocean. "These whales were likely opportunistically acquired from stranded animals or drifted carcasses, rather than actively hunted," said biomolecular archaeologist Krista McGrath of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, co-lead author of the study published in the journal Nature Communications, opens new tab. "The majority of the bones were identified from offshore, deep-water species - such as sperm whale and fin whale - which would have been very difficult to hunt for these prehistoric groups. And there is no evidence from this time period that they had the level of technology that active hunting would have required, like seafaring boats," McGrath said. The 71 whale bone artifacts analyzed by the researchers were found at 27 cave or rock shelter sites. The two oldest ones, both from the bones of fin whales, came from the Spanish Cantabrian sites of Rascaño, dating to about 20,500 years ago, and El Juyo, dating to about 19,800 years ago. The rough age range of the artifacts was from 14,000 years old to more than 20,000 years old, but most were 16,000 to 17,500 years old. The main raw material used to manufacture spear points at the time was antler from reindeer or red deer because it is less brittle and more pliable than land mammal bone. But whale bone offered some advantages, including its large dimensions, with some of the projectile points measuring more than 16 inches (40 cm) long, a size difficult to achieve using antler. "They can be very long and thick, and were probably hafted on spear-style projectiles rather than arrows. They are usually found as fragments, many of which bear fractures related to use, and they were most likely used to hunt the main game animals of the time - reindeer and red deer, horse, bison and ibex," said archaeologist and study co-senior author Jean-Marc Pétillon of the French National Centre for Scientific Research. Bone tools were used by members of the human evolutionary lineage dating back far before our species Homo sapiens emerged more than 300,000 years ago in Africa. The artifacts examined in this study pushed back the oldest-known use of whale bones for toolmaking by 1,000 to 2,000 years. The objects were previously discovered at the various sites and kept in museum collections. The researchers used modern analytical techniques to determine the species from which the bones came and the age of the artifacts. Humans living in this period of prehistory generally were inland hunters, obtaining most of their subsistence needs from the hunting of large hoofed mammals, Pétillon said. The new findings enhance the understanding of their exploitation of seashore resources, Pétillon added. Previous research had shown that Ice Age people gathered seashells, hunted seabirds and fished for marine fishes as a complement to meat from terrestrial animals. "The new findings tell us that these prehistoric groups were likely very well adapted to these coastal environments, and very likely had deep local ecological knowledge and understanding of their coastal habitats," McGrath said. "Whale bones would have been for more than just making tools. There is evidence for their use as fuel as well - the bones contain large amounts of oil - among other things. And the rest of the whale would also certainly have been used – teeth or baleen depending on the species, meat, skin. A single whale provides a lot of resources," McGrath said.—Reuters
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- Science
- TimesLIVE
Tools made of whale bones reveal inventiveness of prehistoric people
Artefacts found at archaeological sites in France and Spain along the Bay of Biscay shoreline show that humans have been crafting tools from whale bones since more than 20,000 years ago, illustrating anew the resourcefulness of prehistoric people. The tools, primarily hunting implements such as projectile points, were fashioned from the bones of at least five species of large whales, the researchers said. Bones from sperm whales were the most abundant, followed by fin whales, grey whales, right or bowhead whales — two species indistinguishable with the analytical method used in the study — and blue whales. With seafaring capabilities by humans not developing until thousands of years later, the Ice Age hunter-gatherers who made these implements would have been unable to actually hunt whales for their resources in the Bay of Biscay, a gulf of the Atlantic Ocean. 'These whale bones were likely opportunistically acquired from stranded animals or drifted carcasses, rather than actively hunted animals,' said bimolecular archaeologist Krista McGrath of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, co-lead author of the study published in the journal Nature Communications. 'The majority of the bones were identified from offshore, deepwater species — such as sperm whale and fin whale — which would have been very difficult to hunt for these prehistoric groups. And there is no evidence from this time period that they had the level of technology that active hunting would have required, like seafaring boats,' McGrath said. The 71 whale bone artefacts analysed by the researchers were found at 27 cave or rock shelter sites. The two oldest ones, both from the bones of fin whales, came from the Spanish Cantabrian sites of Rascaño, dating to about 20,500 years ago, and El Juyo, dating to about 19,800 years ago. The rough age range of the artefacts was from 14,000 years old to more than 20,000 years old, but most were 16,000 to 17,500 years old. The main raw material used to manufacture spear points at the time was antler from reindeer or red deer because it is less brittle and more pliable than land mammal bone. But whale bone offered some advantages, including its large dimensions, with some of the projectile points measuring more than 40cm long, a size difficult to achieve using antler. 'They can be very long and thick, and were probably hafted on spear-style projectiles rather than arrows. They are usually found as fragments, many of which bear fractures related to use, and they were most likely used to hunt the main game animals of the time — reindeer and red deer, horse, bison and ibex,' said archaeologist and study co-senior author Jean-Marc Pétillon of the French National Centre for Scientific Research. Bone tools were used by members of the human evolutionary lineage dating back far before our species Homo sapiens emerged more than 300,000 years ago in Africa. The artefacts examined in this study pushed back the oldest-known use of whale bones for toolmaking by 1,000 to 2,000 years. The objects were previously discovered at the various sites and kept in museum collections. The researchers used modern analytical techniques to determine the species from which the bones came and the age of the artefacts. Humans living in this period of prehistory generally were inland hunters, obtaining most of their subsistence needs from the hunting of large hoofed mammals, Pétillon said. The new findings enhance the understanding of their exploitation of seashore resources. Previous research had shown that Ice Age people gathered seashells, hunted seabirds and fished for marine fishes as a complement to meat from terrestrial animals. 'The new findings tell us that these prehistoric groups were likely very well adapted to these coastal environments, and very likely had deep local ecological knowledge and understanding of their coastal habitats,' McGrath said. 'Whale bones would have been for more than just making tools. There is evidence for their use as fuel as well — the bones contain large amounts of oil — among other things. And the rest of the whale would also certainly have been used — teeth or baleen depending on the species, meat, skin. A single whale provides a lot of resources,' McGrath said.
27-05-2025
- Science
Scientists date the oldest known tools made from whale bones to 20,000 years ago
NEW YORK -- Scientists have pinpointed the oldest known evidence of humans making tools from whale bone. The bones, fashioned into narrow projectiles for hunting, had been uncovered in excavations dating back over a century in the Bay of Biscay near Spain and France. Scientists figured the tools were quite ancient, but many were small fragments so it was hard to determine their age. Technological advancements in the past decade have now made it possible to date the oldest of the tools to about 20,000 years ago. Scientists found that the bones came from blue whales, fin whales, sperm whales and other species. 'Humans and whales have clearly been encountering one another for a long time,' said Vicki Szabo with Western Carolina University, who studies the history of whaling and was not involved with the latest research. Scientists think that ancient humans were crafting whale bone instruments in places including the Arctic and South Pacific. There's been solid evidence of whale bone tools dating back to about 5,000 years ago, but the new research published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications pushes the timeline back. Ancient humans weren't necessarily hunting whales, said study author Jean-Marc Petillon with the French National Centre for Scientific Research. More likely, they were scavenging the bodies of beached whales and fashioning their dense, heavy bones into tools to hunt reindeer or bison. The tools indicate that ancient people in the area took advantage of resources near the sea for survival. They likely also collected seashells and fished. Finding such evidence has been difficult as rising sea levels disrupt coastlines across the globe, scientists said. 'It's one more contribution to the importance of coastal environments for human groups, even in this long past," said Petillon. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Officials announce $53 million investment in pursuit of nearly limitless energy device — here's what we know
France is making an exciting leap toward sustainable energy with a new research program focused on developing advanced superconductors for fusion energy, reported Energy News. The French National Centre for Scientific Research and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission have joined forces on the innovative SupraFusion program. With €50 million ($53.35 million) in funding over seven years, this initiative involves more than 200 scientists from about 20 research organizations and companies. The program centers on high-temperature superconductor materials that can work at temperatures up to 80 kelvin (-193 degrees Celsius/-347.4 degrees Fahrenheit), much warmer than conventional superconductors that need extreme cold at 4 kelvin (-269 degrees Celsius/-484.2 degrees Fahrenheit). This temperature advancement creates the powerful magnetic fields needed to contain plasma in fusion reactors. Fusion energy could be a transformative power source in the near future. Unlike current nuclear power, fusion produces energy like our sun does: by combining atoms rather than splitting them. This means it creates minimal long-lived radioactive waste and uses inexpensive fuel abundant in seawater, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. For you at home, the development of fusion energy could eventually lead to dramatically lower electricity bills. Cities and companies would benefit from a reliable, always-available clean energy source that doesn't depend on weather conditions like wind or solar power. The health benefits could be substantial, too. If fusion replaces conventional energy sources, like gas, oil, and coal, we'd see reduced air pollution, which would mean fewer respiratory illnesses and heart problems in communities worldwide. The SupraFusion work is structured around three main areas: developing the basic technology of high-temperature superconductors, proving their industrial reliability with a demonstration electromagnet, and exploring innovative uses like compact fusion power plants, per Energy News. These advanced superconductors could also improve offshore wind power, high-capacity electricity transmission, and even healthcare through enhanced MRI equipment with lower operating costs. The program also aims to bolster scientific training to prepare a new generation of researchers and engineers in this promising field. Should the government be paying us to upgrade our homes? Definitely Depends on how much it costs Depends on what it's for No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Local France
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
French research centre seeks to lure US-based scientists
The programme aims to attract foreign researchers whose work is threatened and French researchers working abroad, some of whom "don't want to live and raise their children in Trump's United States", said CNRS President Antoine Petit. According to Petit, the "Choose CNRS" initiative has already resulted in some contacts, although the "vast majority are non-Americans". The CNRS ( Centre national de la recherche scientifique , or French National Centre for Scientific Research) is Europe's largest scientific research centre with some 34,000 staff. READ MORE: How easy is it to move to France as a researcher or scientist? Advertisement The initiative is part of a broader effort by France and European countries to cash in on US President Donald Trump's massive cuts in funding for education. Since Trump's return in January, US universities have been threatened with massive federal funding cuts. Research programmes face closure, tens of thousands of federal workers have been fired, whilst foreign students fear possible deportation for their political views. READ MORE: Calls in France to create new 'refugee' status for US researchers President Emmanuel Macron urged France's research institutions in March to attract and welcome US-based scientists. France's "Choose France for Science" initiative launched mid-April with a dedicated platform for applications to host international researchers. "Some foreign researchers have already arrived in France to familiarise themselves with the infrastructure, waiting for the funds and platform to be set up," France's research ministry said. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will attend on Monday a "Choose science choose Europe" event, "at a time when academic freedoms face a number... of threats" and Europe "is a continent of attractiveness", the Elysee Palace said. In France, the Aix-Marseille University launched its "Safe place for science" programme in March. It will receive its first foreign researchers in June. Petit said the CNRS wanted researchers of all levels, from younger post-doctorates and junior professors to external research directors. The CNRS also aims to recruit "stars" of international scientific research but money remains the driving force behind scientific research and Petit said the CNRS did not have a "very large" room for manoeuvre. "The motivation of a researcher is never the remuneration," he said, but above all "the work environment, with its infrastructure and the opportunity to confront the best" scientists. Petit expressed hope that the pay gap between scientists in France and the United States will narrow, once the lower cost of education and health, and more generous social benefits are taken into account.
