07/29/2026
Generation after generation of bearded vultures all used the same nesting site in a cave in southern Spain. When researchers rappelled down the sides of a cliff to reach the site, they found that the cave's cool, dry air preserved the vultures' nesting materials so well that human-made objects, including 13th-century shoes added to the nests hundreds of years ago, were still recognizable.
Learn more about the objects and how vultures and other bird species create archeological and biological treasure troves: https://on.natgeo.com/IE26Ee
