In a remarkable discovery, archaeologists have uncovered a sperm whale tooth at the Valencina de la Concepción-Castilleja de Guzmán site, located southwest of Seville, Spain. This find, dating to the 3rd millennium BCE, is the first of its kind on the Iberian Peninsula, offering new insights into prehistoric Iberian cultures. The tooth was uncovered during an excavation project in 2018, when a section of the Copper Age mega-site, known as Nueva Biblioteca, was being dug up as part of a new municipal library construction. The discovery marks a crucial moment in understanding the complex relationship between ancient communities and the marine world, which may have been tied to ritualistic practices.
The sperm whale tooth is a rare artifact, and its discovery shines a light on the significance of marine life in ancient cultures. Researchers, led by Dr. Samuel Ramírez-Cruzado Aguilar-Galindo, have conducted a detailed study of the tooth, which reveals much about its journey from the sea to the hands of ancient humans. Published in PLOS One, this research provides critical insights into the cultural importance of the tooth, exploring its role in prehistoric rituals and its possible connections to large marine creatures that might have been revered by these ancient societies.
The Significance of the Discovery in Valencina
Valencina de la Concepción, a major archaeological site, is known for its rich array of findings, including stone tools, pottery, and animal remains. This discovery is particularly noteworthy as it represents the first-ever sperm whale tooth from the 3rd millennium discovered on the Iberian Peninsula. Prior to this, only one other sperm whale tooth had been found in the western Mediterranean—at the Monte d’Accoddi site in Sardinia. This places the Valencina find in a significant archaeological context, emphasizing the rarity and the importance of the artifact.
The tooth itself, measuring 13.2 cm, has been the subject of extensive analysis, offering valuable clues about the life of the whale from which it came. The tooth’s wear patterns, including a smooth fracture and material loss, indicate that it was likely an old specimen at the time of its death. “It belongs to an old specimen,” explains Dr. Ramírez-Cruzado Aguilar-Galindo, “based on the wear visible on the labial side, and a smoothed fracture with loss of material on the lingual side that indicates that it was produced during the animal’s life.” These signs reveal that the tooth underwent considerable wear while still part of the living whale, a detail that adds to the artifact’s intriguing history.
The Journey of the Tooth From the Sea to Land
The sperm whale tooth’s journey from the depths of the ocean to the archaeological site has been meticulously reconstructed through taphonomic analysis. After the whale’s death, the tooth likely spent time on the seafloor, where it was subject to the actions of scavengers, possibly sharks. As noted in the study, the tooth shows clear evidence of tooth marks, indicating that it was scavenged by marine predators. Over time, it became encrusted with marine organisms such as sponges and gastropods, which colonized the surface of the tooth.
At some point, the tooth was likely brought to the surface through a natural event, such as a storm or powerful tidal action. “The interesting thing about both teeth is that they are the only sperm whale teeth from the Neolithic-Chalcolithic time found in archaeological contexts in Europe, at the moment,” says Dr. Ramírez-Cruzado Aguilar-Galindo. “Both were found in very important places, almost sacred, I would say, which speaks of the importance given to these pieces.” This suggests that the sperm whale tooth was considered a rare and valuable object, worthy of reverence by the people who eventually discovered it.
Ritualistic and Cultural Context in Copper Age Iberia
The discovery of the sperm whale tooth at Valencina provides evidence of ritualistic practices among Copper Age societies. In the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, it was common for large animal remains to be included in ritual deposits, often as grave goods for the socially elite. The tooth from the sperm whale may have held similar significance, potentially as a token of power or reverence for the marine world.
Dr. Ramírez-Cruzado Aguilar-Galindo supports this theory, suggesting that the ancient inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula might have recognized the tooth as originating from a massive marine animal. “I support the idea that they knew the animal it came from or at least that it came from a huge marine animal,” he explains. “People at that time knew their surroundings, the resources, they would have contact with other communities. For example, in Portugal, there are objects made with sperm whale bones, so for the Copper Age as well, so who knows if they share stories about big sea creatures?” This points to a possible cultural exchange between ancient Iberian communities and those in neighboring regions, further highlighting the value placed on such extraordinary items.