The pendant, long misidentified, is now confirmed as a crafted male grey seal tooth featuring a drilled suspension hole and wear patterns that indicate long-term use.

Similar inland marine artifacts across Europe reveal extensive Ice Age mobility and interconnected exchange networks spanning Spain, France, and beyond.

The artifact likely carried social meaning tied to identity, group affiliation, or coastal connections, beyond its practical function.

Modern scientific reevaluation underscores the value of isotope and ancient DNA studies to trace the seal’s origin and movement patterns, suggesting future research directions.

Dating to roughly 15,000 years ago, the Kents Cavern pendant from Devon exemplifies early Magdalenian-era artistic expression and social behavior in Britain.

The inland find location, more than 100 kilometers from the coast during the Ice Age, implies long-distance movement potentially via seasonal routes or early trade networks.

3D surface analysis and micro-CT scans reveal the tooth’s shaping, perforation, and wear, including root thinning and a drilled hole for suspension.

Wear patterns indicate the pendant was worn on a necklace or bracelet and used extensively over many years.