Through a detailed multiproxy analysis, researchers have not only uncovered the earliest known examples of whale bone modification by humans, but also expanded the known range of marine taxa exploited in this region during prehistory.This study sheds new light on human-marine interactions and the diverse use of marine resources in Upper Paleolithic coastal communities. By integrating ZooMS, radiocarbon and stable isotopess, the research team has reconstructed a broader picture of how whales were processed and potentially symbolically used.

The findings underscore the deep temporal roots of human connections to the sea and provide valuable insight into the cultural and subsistence strategies of Paleolithic societies in Atlantic Europe.