Vultures collected this for 700 years | Focus on Europe
16 Video Views·Sep 14, 2026
In the cliffs of Nerpio in Spain, biologists, archaeologists and climbers found centuries-old objects including sandals, a sheepskin mask, an arrow and woven artifacts preserved inside nests used by generations of birds. Some finds date back 700 years, offering rare insights into the culture and daily life of people who once lived in the region. The discoveries are opening a new field of research linking wildlife and archaeology.
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Video Summary
AI GeneratedA multidisciplinary team of biologists and archaeologists in Spain has discovered an unprecedented historical archive within abandoned bearded vulture nests. By scaling steep cliffs, researchers found centuries-old human artifacts, including 13th-century sandals and masks, preserved by generations of birds.
For an archaeologist, examining a vulture's nest like this is incredible.
These sites are quite unusual. The vultures seem to have done the work of a museum.
Spanish bearded vultures are not only majestic fliers, but also creative builders.
Sergio Couto is a biologist studying their ancient, long-abandoned nests.
We're in Nerpio, in the Castile-La Mancha region of Spain.
Sergio's team gathers at dawn to avoid the heat.
The group of biologists, archaeologists and climbing experts faces a long day ahead.
We've been working towards this for years. It's difficult to find the nests.
And we expect surprises. You never know what will be in it.
Bearded vultures always build their nests on steep cliffs.
Only climbers can reach them.
One of them is 48-year-old Pablo Martínez.
Together with his colleague, they have a tough climb ahead.
Our main challenge is the nests' location. They're hard to reach and quite remote.
With the help of a telescope, the daring manoeuvre is followed by archaeologist Elisabet Ortiz from across the ravine.
She and Sergio, the biologists, are working together to study the vulture nests.
The nests are historic. We don't know how old they are.
But we have various methods for dating what we find in them.
Sergio is in radio contact with the climbers as they work through the layers,
searching for bones and building materials.
They can work undisturbed. Bearded vultures have not lived here for 40 years.
Bearded vultures have become extinct throughout the Iberian Peninsula, except in the Pyrenees.
Poisoned bait was set out for other animals.
The vultures weren't the target, but they ended up eating the poisoned meat anyway.
This is how they disappeared from here.
Efforts have recently been made to reintroduce the birds.
In Erpio, generations after generations of vulture families have used and repaired the same nests again and again.
They have even incorporated man-made items into their nests, such as this braided band.
We found a 700-year-old sandal.
This means that at least 100 generations of bearded vultures used the nest
since one of their ancestors first brought the sandal there.
Sandals, an arrow, a mask made of woven grass.
Ana Belén Marín Arroyo is examining the finds at the University of Cantabria.
The mask and the sandal are some of the largest we have,
and clearly tell us about tradition and culture.
The discovery has caused quite a stir in archaeological circles.
Using vulture nests to find historical treasure troves is unprecedented.
This mask made of sheepskin dates back to the 13th century.
No one expected to find something like this in the vultures' nest.
Initially, our goal was to understand what vultures used to eat.
So we were surprised to discover items that belonged to people who once lived in this region.
Because of these findings, the focus of our research has now shifted.
This opens a new research direction.
We now have more than 30 sandals, made using different techniques and materials.
We had no idea this existed before, so this is definitely a major discovery.
As a result, more vulture nests will be examined.
After six hours on the cliff face, the operation here in Nerbio is now drawing to a close.
It's back-breaking work for the climbers.
Yes, that was quite tough, especially toward the end.
We had to remove the hooks again and haul all the gear up here.
What an exhausting day!
Once again, they discovered a lot of wickerwork and four sandals.
Elisabeth and Sergio are very happy.
Their hard work paid off.
For an archaeologist, examining a vulture's nest like this is incredible.
And it's my best one so far.
Someone wore this for a long time before throwing it away in the mountains.
And then a bearded vulture came along and took a liking to the sandal.
Size 42, 43, a sizable foot.
The group plans to examine more nests before the end of the year, but they'll have to act quickly.
The efforts to reintroduce bearded vultures to the area have so far been successful.
And if the vultures do return, their nests will be off-limits to everyone.