Rediscovery of the Seal Tooth Pendant

In the heart of Devon, UK, lies Kents Cavern, a Palaeolithic treasure trove that has captivated archaeologists for centuries. Discovered during William Pengelly's pioneering excavations between 1865 and 1880, a small, perforated tooth artifact languished in museum collections for over 150 years, misidentified as belonging to a badger, wolf, or beaver. Recent meticulous analysis by an interdisciplinary team from University College London (UCL) and the Natural History Museum (NHM) London has transformed this overlooked curio into a window on prehistoric life. Published in the prestigious journal Quaternary Science Reviews, the study identifies it as a premolar tooth from a grey seal (Halichoerus grypus), crafted into a pendant approximately 15,000 years ago during the Late Upper Palaeolithic period.

Pengelly's work at Kents Cavern set new standards in archaeological excavation, with detailed stratigraphic recording that allowed modern scientists to contextualize the find within the site's 'Black Band' layer, associated with Magdalenian occupation. This methodical approach ensured the pendant's provenance remained intact, enabling today's high-tech scrutiny.

Craftsmanship of the Pendant: A Masterpiece of Prehistoric Artistry

The pendant exemplifies sophisticated stone-working skills. The large root was first scraped or ground down to thin and smooth it, likely using abrasive stones or sand. A precise hole was then drilled into the remaining root base with a pointed flint tool rotated repeatedly, creating a perforation ideal for threading a cord. Over time, use-wear polished the tooth to a shine, elongating the hole from circular to oval due to friction from the suspension material. Micro-CT scans and 3D modeling revealed these modifications without damaging the fragile artifact, highlighting the craftsman's expertise in handling brittle marine mammal dentition.

• Root reduction: Breaking the jaw and grinding excess material.
• Perforation: Flint burin drilling, avoiding cracks.
• Polishing: Extended wear from suspension and handling.

Such personalization suggests the pendant was not merely decorative but a cherished item, possibly symbolizing status, identity, or coastal affinity. The grey seal, from a mature male around 12 years old, would have been a prized resource, its tooth selected for durability and aesthetic appeal.

Advanced Identification Techniques Breathe New Life into Old Finds

Modern archaeology relies on non-destructive methods to unlock ancient secrets. High-powered microscopy examined surface wear, while micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) peered inside, mapping internal structures and manufacturing traces. Comparisons with NHM's extensive marine mammal osteological collection confirmed the grey seal origin, distinguishing it from terrestrial carnivores. Although ancient DNA (aDNA) or proteomics were not pursued due to the artifact's rarity, future applications could trace the seal's geographic origin via isotopes or genetic markers.

These techniques exemplify how 21st-century tools revive Victorian collections, turning static museum pieces into dynamic research subjects. Proteomics, for instance, analyzes preserved proteins in dentine to species-identify beyond morphology, while aDNA from dental pulp reveals handler genetics.

The Magdalenian Culture: Artists and Hunters of Ice Age Europe

The pendant hails from the Magdalenian culture (ca. 21,000–13,000 years BP), named after La Madeleine shelter in France, renowned for cave art like Lascaux's precursors, sophisticated bone tools, and harpoons. In Britain, evidence is sparse but growing, with Kents Cavern's Black Band yielding tanged points and barbed implements diagnostic of this continental tradition. Magdalenians adapted to post-Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) warming, exploiting reindeer herds and coastal resources as ice retreated.

This period marks a European artistic zenith, with ornaments signaling identity amid mobile hunter-gatherer bands. The pendant aligns with thousands of marine shells and mammal remains at inland sites, underscoring maritime engagement.

Evidence of Long-Distance Mobility and Trade Networks

During the Late Upper Palaeolithic, sea levels were ~125 km lower than today, placing Kents Cavern far inland from grey seal haunts in the English Channel. Transporting the tooth implies deliberate coastal forays, seasonal migrations, or exchange networks linking maritime and terrestrial groups. Lead author Simon Parfitt notes: “It reveals how items of significance were transported great distances and hints at cultural connections with mainland Europe.”

Similar 'exotic' marine items at Las Caldas, Spain (40 km inland), including whale bone and sperm whale tooth, suggest pan-European patterns. In Britain, this challenges views of isolation, positing interconnected social worlds.

Comparative Finds: Seal Tooth Pendants Across Europe

Only four other Upper Palaeolithic seal tooth pendants are known, all from Magdalenian sites in France's Pyrenees and Spain, such as Isturitz and Noa. These parallels indicate shared technologies and symbolism, with drilled perforations and polish matching Kents Cavern's specimen. Dr. Silvia Bello emphasizes: “This is the first known example from the British Isles... adding a new dimension to our understanding of shared cultural traditions.”

Broader marine mammal use—whale vertebrae pendants at Gönnersdorf, Germany—points to valued coastal exotica traded inland, fostering alliances and prestige.

Kents Cavern: Gateway to Britain's Deep Past

Overlooking Torquay's coast today, Kents Cavern spans 500,000 years, with Neanderthal and Homo sapiens occupations. Pengelly's 80,000+ artifacts include hyena dens and Ice Age megafauna, but the Magdalenian layer reveals post-LGM repopulation. Ongoing NHM-UCL collaborations promise more revelations from this UNESCO-pointed site.

Symbolism and Social Roles in Prehistoric Ornaments

Beyond utility, pendants encoded identity. Wear suggests prolonged personal attachment, perhaps denoting hunter prowess or lineage. In Magdalenian society, ornaments complemented body art and clothing, signaling alliances in small, mobile groups facing environmental flux.

Future Horizons: Isotopes, aDNA, and Beyond

Prospects include strontium isotope analysis of dentine for provenance, or aDNA for seal/human genetics. Co-author Claire Lucas muses: “We don’t know... what story it may have held about their travels.” Such data could map networks, revolutionizing views of Ice Age connectivity.

NHM's detailed feature and UCL announcement offer visuals and context.

Broader Impacts on Human Prehistory Research

This find bridges Britain to continental Magdalenian heartlands, informing climate adaptation, symbolism, and economics. For Quaternary scientists, it underscores museum collections' value, urging digitization and reanalysis. In Europe, it highlights higher education's role—UCL's Institute of Archaeology and NHM's Human Evolution team lead globally.

The pendant not only adorns history but rewrites narratives of prehistoric ingenuity, proving Ice Age Europeans as connected innovators.

Photo by Callum Blacoe on Unsplash