Fishing has been a significant part of the diet of our earliest African ancestors, adding another dimension to the hunting and gathering lifestyle. The papers in this volume offer a unique treatment of prehistoric fishing strategies, exploring the role of fishing in highly varied aboriginal societies. The oldest indications of fishing, about 2 million years old, are bones of Tilapia and shells of molluscs, along with simple pebble tools and human bones left by Homo habilis.
Fishing was an essential source of food in Prehistory and became a commercial activity in Antiquity. Deep-sea fishing first emerged in the 15th century, but really took off with the arrival of steam boats in the 19th century. As city populations grew, fish became a commodity, harvested by the thousands. Fishers transported their catches to small towns and then cities, bringing them to cities.
During the Paleolithic era, early humans developed tools such as hooks, harpoons, and gorges made from bones and wood. Cave paintings depicting fishing were also found. Fishing was significant to the prehistoric lifestyle because it provided a more reliable and nutritious food source, necessitating the ability to cross oceans since the 16th century. Fish served as a means of payment and reward, and was often depicted in art as a symbol of abundance and fertility.
Coastal hunting and fishing allowed Maritime Archaic people to expand to far northern Labrador by 6,000 years ago and to Newfoundland by about 5,000 years ago.
📹 Fishing in Prehistory
Paleoanthropology #human #ancienthuman Start playing Fishing Clash for free on your iOS/Android device by downloading it via …
What did humans inherit from fish?
The early human embryo resembles other mammal, bird, or amphibian embryos, all of which evolved from fish. Eyes start on the sides of the head, while the top lip, jaw, and palate started life as gill-like structures on the neck. The nose and middle lip come down from the top of the head. There is no trace of a scar, but a remnant of activity is found in the middle of the top lip, called the philtrum. The process of creating a human face requires great precision.
What is the ancient fish thing?
Living fossil fish, such as the coelacanth, have been around for over 450 million years, providing scientists with a glimpse into the Earth’s past. The term “living fossil” was coined by Charles Darwin to describe the ginkgotree, whose distinctive wedge-shaped leaves are nearly identical to those offossilized from the Triassic Period 240 million years ago. Today, scientists have identified hundreds of other living things that have remained in almost unchanged form for millions of years, including giant sequoiatrees, millipedes, armadillos, crocodilians, and some bacteria.
These ancient fish, as the ancestors of all vertebrates, also provide important clues about the evolution of many animals, including humans. Some living fossil fish that have escaped the limelight are listed below.
How did they catch fish in the Stone Age?
The invention of the fishhook dates back to the Magdalenian era, around 15, 000 years ago. However, our ancestors, known as “Cro-Magnon men”, hunted fish with bows, arrows, or harpoons. In the mid-19th century, the most complete fossil remains of Homo sapiens were discovered in the shelter “Cro-Magnon” in Les Eyzies de Taillac. The remains of meals containing thousands of vertebrae of salmon, eels, and trout included tens of harpoon points made of bone, horn, hardened wood, or flint.
These points testify that these men of Cro-Magnon ate as much fish as game during certain times, particularly during salmon or eel migrations. Aquatic fauna, such as fish, crustaceans, and shellfish, entered prehistoric men’s diet early. The halibut hook in wood and bone was used in the 19th century by the Indian tribes of British Columbia. Mammoth bone and ivory harpoon points were found intact in sediments over 22, 000 years old, with the wooden handles having completely rotted.
What was the purpose of fishing?
Fishing, the sport of catching fish with a rod, line, and hook, originated as a means of providing food for survival. It has a long history, with Egyptian angling scenes dating back to 2000 BCE, Chinese accounts from the 4th century BCE, and ancient Greek, Assyrian, Roman, and Jewish writings. Today, despite increased human populations creating demands on rivers and lakes, fishing remains a popular outdoor recreation.
The modern angler faces the same problems as their predecessors, such as finding fish and attracting them, understanding wind and weather, quarry nature, and water patterns. The history of angling is largely influenced by the development of tackle, the equipment used for fishing.
What is the oldest evidence of human fishing?
The world’s oldest fish hook has been discovered at a site in East Timor, dating back 42, 000 years ago. The discovery, made from the Jerimalai shelter limestone cave, suggests that humans were catching fish from the open ocean 42, 000 years ago. The broken shell fishhook, found in East Timor, supports the idea that humans were engaged in off-shore fishing earlier than previously thought.
Why was fishing important in ancient Egypt?
Fishing in the Nile has a rich history dating back thousands of years, with ancient Egyptians being one of the first civilizations to recognize the abundance of fish in the river. Fishing was crucial for their daily lives, providing food and supporting their economy. The Egyptians developed innovative fishing techniques, such as using lightweight papyrus reed nets and fish traps strategically placed along the riverbanks. Fishing was not only a means of survival for the ancient Egyptians but also deeply intertwined with their culture and religious beliefs.
The Nile was considered a sacred river, and the act of fishing was often associated with the gods and goddesses worshipped by the Egyptians. A successful catch was considered a blessing from the divine.
What is the historical significance of fishing?
Europeans introduced fishing to Northern Alberta, where fur traders made a living on pelts but also lived on fish. Fort Chipewyan in Northeast Alberta caught 33, 000 fish from October to January 1822, with a daily ration of four fish and a potatoe. Some northern trade posts had to be relocated due to limited access to fisheries. The archaeological record of fishing is sparse due to the organic nature of fishing tools and the fragile nature of fish bones in Alberta’s acidic soils.
However, interesting fish-related finds include stone fish hooks, bone prongs, sinkers, and fish vertebrae for beads. Recent scientific techniques have allowed the recovery of fish blood from stone tools, revealing that fish like pike, walleye, and whitefish were caught thousands of years ago. Fur trade forts have yielded an array of early hooks, some entirely metal and others a combination of bone and iron.
What was fish used for in ancient times?
The ancient Nile river was a significant source of fish, with fresh and dried fish being staple food for much of the population. Egyptians had fishing methods illustrated in tomb scenes, drawings, and papyrus documents, suggesting that fishing was pursued as a pastime. The Israelites ate a variety of fresh and saltwater fish, with most coming from the Mediterranean or the Red Sea. Fishermen supplied fish to inland communities, and to preserve them for transport, they were first smoked or dried and salted. Merchants also imported fish, sometimes from Egypt, where pickled roe was an export article.
During the Israelite and Judean monarchies, fish products were salted and dried and sent great distances. However, the cost of preserving and transporting fish meant that only wealthier inhabitants of highland towns and cities could afford it. Fishing scenes were rarely represented in ancient Greek culture, reflecting the low social status of fishing. In the Greek islands and on the coast, fresh fish and seafood (squid, octopus, and shellfish) were common, eaten locally but more often transported inland. Sardines and anchovies were regular fare for Athens citizens, sometimes sold fresh but more frequently salted.
A stele from the late 3rd century BCE from the small Boeotian city of Akraiphia, on Lake Copais, provides a list of fish prices. The cheapest fish was skaren, while Atlantic bluefin tuna was three times as expensive. Common salt water fish included yellowfin tuna, red mullet, ray, swordfish, or sturgeon, which was eaten salted. Lake Copais was famous for its eels, pike-fish, carp, and catfish.
Why is fishing important to the world?
The global population growth is contingent upon the sustainability of seafood resources, as healthy fish populations are integral to maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. The sustainability of fisheries is a vital component of maintaining the resilience of marine ecosystems and ensuring the sustainability of coastal communities.
How did ancient humans catch fish?
Archaeologists have discovered a vast collection of early hook and line fishing tackle in the Hula Valley of modern-day Israel. The site, one of the largest collections, includes bone fishhooks, grooved stones, artificial lures, and evidence of plant-based fishing line. The team conducted archaeological, technological, and microscopic examinations to understand how people made and fished with these items. The items of interest to anglers include early hooks, lines, sinkers, and artificial lures.
📹 Gar Facts: a PREHISTORIC FISH?! | Animal Fact Files
Gar are often cited as prehistoric fish because they haven’t changed much from their fossils. Gar are also known as “trash fish” for …
As an Irishman. I’m happy to see a article like this. I grew up on fish alot. Traditional ways of fishing like spearing with a fork or leaving a baited line overnight or just waiting were and are still common. Eels, Salmon, Trout, Shad, Bream, Pike (only if you were really stuck for food though as there’s more bone then meat) and char were the main quarry in the lakes and rivers. Rods and Trad methods were used. The sea though is very different. It’s too deep so the spear didn’t really work. We used to use a rod for big fish like coalfish and cod, but we used strong free twine with a big strong hook for monster fish like Halibut and Conger. There used to be a halibut skull at home and you could fit a child’s head in the mouth of the long dead beast. We used to make lures from the head of a spoon and a hook for any kind of fish. Pike mainly though. Feathers from plucked chicken feathers with twine and a hook for mackerel, haddock and Herring. And a big lump of bait like a salmons head would get a Turbot and Halibuts attention. The coalfish was the true treasure of an Irish table. A a big fish that gave a good fight, wouldn’t kill you (unlike halibut which would kill as many people as possible if you gave it the chance🤣) and was delicious Great article North. Keep up the good work, these articles are very addictive
You could make a article on “the process of observing paint drying” and I would click quick. However, I do often wonder what is known about boats. I imagine the first ones were really rafts and I remember learning about dug out canoes in scouts… but if you took a wack at it I’m sure we would all learn something. Thank you for all you do
I loved this episode. I’m a keen angler, and as a kid was fascinated with primitive fishing methods and marine foraging. I’ve spent countless hours making my own lures to imitate the indigenous bait fish and food items of local fish here in Ireland, with some excellent success. There’s nothing like having a fishing rod almost ripped from your hands by a fish that suddenly realises, something ain’t right. Especially in good strong surf conditions. Give yourself a well deserved pat on the back; your productions are beautifully conveyed and intelligently told.
my family lived next to a wonderful lake in Minnesota called Spirit Lake. My dad talked about the Indians coming to harvest wild rice when he was a kid. such a beautiful place. I spent a lot of my childhood fishing off piers and boats. Even when we didn’t’ catch anything it was so relaxing. esp in the morning and evening. I went up there in 2000 and I didn’t recognize the place
One of the most common nightmares (and one I’ve had recurring throughout my life) is of deep bodies of water and the predators that lurk beneath. In my case I’ve had countless nightmares throughout my life of crocodiles. Being in the water with one, not knowing where it is but knowing that it’s hunting me — preparing to attack at any moment. Things like that. I genuinely believe that certain fears and fascinations concerning bodies of water (and that which lurks within) have been genetically hard-wired into mankind’s psyche over the course of millions of years of evolution. (So of course this would mean it’s so ancient that even non anatomically modern humans will have been influenced in this way as well.) I’m thinking it’s probably a universal fear & fascination shared by all terrestrial animals
I’d like to see some experimental archaeology focused on fishing, the closest I’ve seen on youtube is weir and fish trap construction, and fish poison once. The basketry and the variety of tool shapes I’ve seen on southeast asian primitive living websites are novel too, even if some of the tools are made of steel.
I definitely get a small sense of pride understanding how fast our species learned advanced hunting and fishing techniques with the relative shorter amount of time we were around vs prior homo species. The evolution of our larger and “smarter” brain was really an evolutionary change point. Things really took off for us after that. It kind of parallels the Bible story where Adam ate from the tree of knowledge and was the cast from the garden of Eden. Similarly, we evolved and became smarter, and in a very short amount of time (compared to the full history of life on earth) we lost our hunter gatherer ways and became the technology advanced species of today. Gone are our ways of simply living with nature and solely relying on what the earth itself provides.
You forgot to mention gorges, which were most likely the earliest form of fish “hook” and definitely the most simple form. They are linear in shape and are sharpened at one or both ends, then tied in the middle to a cord. the bait is placed on, and the fish swallows it. The thing is, if the fish tries to spit it out, it either sticks in their gills as the point pulls to right angles from the cord. The pointed end(s) can also penetrate the throat and become lodged there. Gorges can be made out of many kinds of materials including all the ones which hooks can be made of, and even the bones of larger fish. They are most often made of wood, and therefore don’t survive past a few thousand years. Some primitive cultures use gorges even today, as they are simple to make and quite effective. Just to test the effectiveness of them, I have caught wild trout, bluegills, and catfish using gorges. I’m sure that someone living near the ocean would be able to catch ocean species with them. When it comes to catching cetaceans such as dolphins, those could not be caught with a gorge, and therefore any dolphin remains found at prehistoric sites must be either scavenged, or else they had technologies which we are not aware of. It wouldn’t surprise me if they did though. Dugout and skin rafts wouldn’t tend to last and neither would simple rafts. In addition, boats and rafts are usually hauled all the way up to living spaces, and instead are left at shore or river side. Further, people don’t tend to take them with them when they move to a new location, finding it easier to make new ones than to haul all that heavy weight over rocks and through forests.
Very well done article. Lots of beautifull images and to the point displays. A good and relaxed speaking voice. About the prehistory we don’t know what we don’t know, but I think earlier hominids were a lot smarter than we used to think. The paintings/drawings however show how they went to the barber and used l’oreal cream and ordered their clothes from Amazon. This is less realistic.
Excellent topic..‼️😁 I would love to see when and I have imagined how our ancestors domesticated horses and dogs…you thoughts on this topic interests me as they our ancestors painted and drew on rocks and cave walls beautiful impressions of equine and other species.. Thanks again‼️Have a great day or evening descending where you are in the world ‼️😁😎🤠 Respectfully, Lynne Dunn Indigenous woman Colorado River, Az. 😁😎🤠
Brilliant presentation. I don’t know how I missed it. I think “fishing” and interaction with the aquatic environment was far more important to human kind than has been reported. It is almost certainly the cause of earliest habitation in North and South America. People following the coastal water way now buried due to increased water levels. Of course, in early history, fish and aquatic animals would have been easier to catch than they are today. Fewer humans and a lot more fish and animals. All they needed was a way to catch them. That’s where humans excelled. Ingenuity. It may have started with a rock and a fish in a pool of water or simply hand catching a leisure catfish. I’ve done that myself. I have pictures of my relatives groping for huge catfish years ago. I suspect that there was also widespread use of some kind of watercraft. A floating log or a reed boat. If a human being can see the other side of a river long enough, they are going to figure out how to get to the other side. It is an absolute certainty. One eager step at a time; sharing ideas and technology. At least that was before copyright laws:-)
Anyother excellent article. I’m an archaeologist myself, who soecializes in prehistoric maritime adaptations. So I appreciate the quality of this and other public education articles by the same creator/author. BTW, I’m also from Minnesota and enjoy fishing, especially with my two boys who have grown up at the sea, on lakes, and near rivers. Two water rats who continue the traditions of their prehistoric ancestors!
I imagine there were huge swarms of tuna back then. They probably speared them from a raft when the tuna were in the middle of a feeding frenzy on the surface. We may even be the reason they aren’t close to shore these days but you should definitely make a mother of pearl lure. That’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.
Nice vid. However…..if you examine the 800000 year old spear head??? It more closely resembles the gaint heads on Easter island. Might this have actually been an effigy or charm representing those? Stood upright it is a very close match. Also the lower part is flattened and at a right angle which would have caused diminished penetration. I’m not saying you’re wrong but it is a good possibility when you study it from all angles.
How about Turkana Boy. He had a massive tooth infection I believe. It would be an interesting story to tell! Also, I get frustrated when there is amazement at why there would be a Neanderthal burial or hashtag art in Gibraltar or a Denison bracelet….each of these things are later evens more toward the end of their reign. By then, there would be many homo sapian~Neanderthal hybrids (Denisovan hybrids as well). So why don’t we EVER hear about this possible explanation? Jeeez to me it’s a no~ brainer 😏 or am I over~ simplifying it. (Don’t answer that! I said that to appear humble lol JK!)
I would love it if you’d explore Neanderthal’s and Homo Erechtive’s (just the name itself brings…to my mind, and I refuse to believe alone…some pretty horrific prison cells lustfully hatred sexual inuendos and sodemic behavior…) the exact nature of the general types of sexuality and how they expressed this human need. We know so much more about them than was even thought possible when I was young…but still the basic imigery in minds of most people like me, who aren’t educated in the field. Remains the picture of a brute with a club dragging a helpless lass into a cave (or Connie Chong) to be raveged.. or that of what some refer to ass “little hippie chimps, making the ancient Greecians seem prude in comparison.
At first I thought that spear fishing would not be highly productive, I mean, hitting a fish with a spear is probably quite a challenge’ but then I considered that large fish were no doubt far more plentiful, since humans weren’t numberous or rapacious enough to make a significant dent in the population. You have to go to some pretty remote places these days to find fish large enough to spear (no, you would probably starve before you could spear enough trout). When North mentions fishing for large catfsh, I wonder if these people knew the ‘noodling’ technique from the American South. Given their profound understanding of the natural world, I bet they knew how to lure certain fish into range.
In every human society present or existed in past, “water” was synonimous of “life”. For various reasons and with various meanings. I’m interested by this topic right now not only because it’s an interesting topic of itself but also because I’m doing a sort of “intellectual exercise” about how other species can develop similar activities that also humans do. Fishing, since it provides food, it’s particularly interesting and important. Thanks for your article. I really appreciate it.
About 25 years ago, I went fishing at a river mouth on the Wild Coast in South Africa. One day I climed up the the cliff to try and spot fish or deep websites to target, and discovered a hidden cave. Water dripping from the ceiling had carved a cross section through the debris on the cave floor. At the bottom of the cut I found selfish remains, burned shells, fish and shark teeth, stone tools, mamalian bones and teeth etc. I bagged some up and after my holiday ended I gave it in at my local museum with the map co-ordinates. They weren’t particularly interested, and to my knowledge the site remains unlogged and un-excavated to this day. I wish I knew more about the site, and the people who lived and fished there…..
Very relaxing,very wide variety of methods,but when did ancient man first make string,or use sinews/vines/bark to make a net.in Georgia they say they found a million year old humanid,and in the cave where they lived a million years ago they found rolled up cotton fibres,sweepings?,or wind blown fibres,or a nest,maybe……a yarn,thanks
Absolutely great subject North02. You’re killing it man…. My favorite place to “nerd out” on history. Thank you for making these. I always assumed early man could get out on the ocean….since they’re island hopping in SE Asia…. If they could do that there’s no reason to believe they couldn’t fish while out there. I would love to see an episode about Paleo Indian culture in America. Like Clovis, Folsom, Cumberland, Dalton, Quad, etc….related people’s. As an artifact collector and hunter myself. It has always fascinated me. I know of, and hunt from a few dozen sites in my area of Western Kentucky and Northern Middle Tennessee. It is an amazing hobby…I have given most of my info to professors at UK and WKU. I would love to see them excavated someday and hopefully be a part of the dig.
Try this experiment yourself: get a few clam or mussel shells. Go to a stand of cattails and start cutting them with the shells, like you need blades for basket weaving, stems for arrow making (and fire drills) and fluff for pillow stuffing. (The pillows are quite warm) It won’t change any archeological data but it will change your perspective since clamshells cut cattails better than a box cutter does and there are so many of them I defy you to find any archeologically that have wear on the cutting edge unless you find quahogs in Minnesota.
One of the simpler methods of fishing required the use of a “gorge.” It was usually a short piece of bone, sharpened on both ends, with a groove around the middle to fasten cordage to. The idea was to insert the gorge into a soft piece of bait lengthwise. When the fish picked up the bait, it was given enough time to swallow it and then the cordage was jerked rapidly cause the gorge to turn sideways in the gullet of the fish, which could then be pulled ashore.
Very interesting flic. Thank you for sharing. So, the protein consumption of these early humans was fish and meat based. Obviously this is counter to the current Vegan trend. I guess there were tribes of the ancient humans that were vegan. Haha the gorillas. Would like to hear more about South East Asian prehistoric fishing, especially East Timor. And the fishing of the first people in the Northeast of Australia if there is any evidence. Is there a relation of the latter two?
Primarily because I can’t imagine how it would work*, the thought of spearing a dolphin, which if not killed, or seriously maimed, with the first thrust, would immediately swim away, and if the water was deep enough, sound, seems to be a stretch. It would require, in my mind, the manufacture of strong rope of some sort, something that would not leave much trace in the fossil record. (I am aware that paleo rope has been found) that probably says more about me *not being a prehistoric human… (go nuts with that you jokers)
don’t even need poison, just dam a small creek, go upstream and set another dam(side website if you want, but just destroy part of the dams when done) then scoop out the water, collect everything else. Could also just scoop the water out of beaver ponds and other small ponds, collect everything. I’ve seen some ponds with thousands of huge snails just begging to be escargot.
Huge oversight fella! The first hooks weren’t what most people think of as hooks. A simple stick with a line tied off center. The stick could be sharpened on one or both ends or not at all. One method: You bring the long end of the stick up and hold it along the line. Insert your stick into the bait by pushing it down, short side first. Cast. First method: Because you put the short side away from the line, when you pull the line it tries to right itself and lodges in the throat or stomach of whatever ate it. Second method: because the short end is along the line and last to go into the bait and the line is ties offset, when tension is applied the sharp short end distances itself from the line and stabs into the throat or stomach or the animal and becomes lodged due to both puncture and obstruction as once the sharp side digs in, the long side will pivot from this point instead of from the point at which the line was tied. Fish, gator, turtle, dolphin, seal, snake, eel, bird. It can be fished actively, from a spring pole (set with a trigger or stuck in the mud like a tight line pole), on a bobber, as a limb line, with a counterweight, tight lined, freelined, or any number of ways. It predates the snare, the net, the windlass, the harpoon, the bow and possibly the trigger set deadfall. It doesn’t leave a record because it was a small wooden consumable that was frequently sopping wet. Every culture known to us has used them at some point. Children have independently “discovered” the principle in survival situations as well as when playing outdoors.
Nobody is catching a tuna without advanced Marine skills and tech. They swim at 19 knots and hunt fast prey. If there’s evidence of tuna fishing at 40kbp and trout or salmon at 70kpb that pushes advanced civilization a lot further back than that! This would indicate something beyond opportunistic or subsistence hunting.
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