TY - JOUR
T1 - Pelagic Fishing at 42,000 Years Before the Present and the Maritime Skills of Modern Humans
AU - O'Connor, Susan
AU - Ono, Rintaro
AU - Clarkson, Christopher J
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - By 50,000 years ago, it is clear that modern humans were capable of long-distance sea travel as they colonized Australia. However, evidence for advanced maritime skills, and for fishing in particular, is rare before the terminal Pleistocene/early Holocene. Here we report remains of a variety of pelagic and other fish species dating to 42,000 years before the present from Jerimalai shelter in East Timor, as well as the earliest definite evidence for fishhook manufacture in the world. Capturing pelagic fish such as tuna requires high levels of planning and complex maritime technology. The evidence implies that the inhabitants were fishing in the deep sea.
AB - By 50,000 years ago, it is clear that modern humans were capable of long-distance sea travel as they colonized Australia. However, evidence for advanced maritime skills, and for fishing in particular, is rare before the terminal Pleistocene/early Holocene. Here we report remains of a variety of pelagic and other fish species dating to 42,000 years before the present from Jerimalai shelter in East Timor, as well as the earliest definite evidence for fishhook manufacture in the world. Capturing pelagic fish such as tuna requires high levels of planning and complex maritime technology. The evidence implies that the inhabitants were fishing in the deep sea.
U2 - 10.1126/science.1207703
DO - 10.1126/science.1207703
M3 - Article
SN - 0036-8075
VL - 334
SP - 1117
EP - 1121
JO - Science
JF - Science
IS - 6059
ER -