650-Year-Old Sandal Found In A Vulture's Nest In Spain

Researchers studying these abandoned, centuries-old nests in Spain found a wealth of other human-made objects, including baskets, a crossbow bolt, a wooden lance, and a slingshot.

Researchers have uncovered more than 200 human-made artifacts from the nests of bearded vultures in southern Spain, including a 650-year-old sandal made of woven grass.

Depending on the specific area, the bearded vulture has been extinct in southern Spain for between 70 and 130 years. However, their nests, which are nestled high up on the sides of mountains, largely remain intact.

Researchers used historical records and even spoke to older, long-time residents with firsthand knowledge in order to locate these nests. In total, they analyzed 12 different sites, discovering bone remains, eggshell fragments, and s