Ancient fisheries are difficult to study, as many of the materials used, such as plant fibers and wood, were perishable. However, one of the largest ever made collections of early fishing technologies allowed researchers to learn about the techniques used.
The team, led by Antonella Pedergnana of the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Archaeological Research Institute in Germany, studied 19 bone fish hooks and six fluted stones from the Jordan River Dureijat (JRD) in the Hula Valley in northern Israel. They believe the fluted stones were used as weights.
“The hooks are surprisingly similar to modern hooks, in size, characteristics (such as beards) and in the dexterity of manufacture”, said the prof. Gonen Sharon of Tel Hai College, Israel. “Also, the hooks have features that are rarely found in modern hooks, for example an external lower barb which aims to act as a point of no return to prevent the fish from escaping the hook ”.
These sophisticated methods arose during a seismic shift in human history: the transition from the nomadic to the agricultural lifestyle. The people who used these fishing gear were an intermediate stage. They were hunter-gatherers, but they lived in a stable place, in stone houses. As a result, they did very reliant on fish. While other resources may have been depleted, the fish was much more readily available and was available all year round.
Ancient fishing with almost modern tools
There was a huge variety of hooks, showing that they understood that different tools were needed for different fish. “Looking at the hooks, we see that no two are alike. Each hook is different in size, characteristics and style “Sharon said. “This variability can be explained by the excellent knowledge these people had regarding fish behavior.
“They knew exactly which hook size is suitable for which size and type of fish and which characteristics are needed to get the best results for each type of fish. We also know, from the fish bones found at the site, that the size of the fish caught varies from very small fish to giant carp over 2 meters in length ”.
Although the tools were in many ways similar to modern hooks, there were also some differences. “JRD anglers did not drill holes in the hooks (perhaps because the bones are not strong enough) but instead used sophisticated and different methods to attach the line to the hook. and weigh down the hooks, such as sophisticated grooves, bulges and knots, and even the use of glue ”.
Some of the grooves and debris of plant fibers on the folds of the hooks suggest that the fishermen were using artificial lures. “The use of fly fishing indicates a complete and profound knowledge of fish behavior”Sharon said. “You must know that some species of fish hunt by attacking insects near the surface of the water and will attack an artificial bite that pretends to be a fly. So, for 13,000 years ago they knew everything there was to know about the fish of Lake Hula ”.