A groundbreaking study has unveiled ancient fishing practices of Pacific islanders during the late Stone Age, revealing how they targeted fast-moving marine predators. Using a new technique called Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS), researchers successfully identified various species of fish from archaeological bone fragments, providing valuable insights into the dietary habits and cultural development of these early communities.
The research focuses on Fais Island, a small raised coral island located in the Yap State of Micronesia. Archaeological evidence indicates that this island was inhabited for nearly 1,800 years. The study highlights the significance of pelagic fishing, particularly the capture of sharks and tunas, which played a crucial role in the survival and cultural evolution of its inhabitants.
Innovative Methodology Enhances Species Identification
Traditional methods of identifying fish remains often fell short due to challenges such as poor preservation conditions and the nature of fish skeletons, which can be cartilaginous and do not fossilize well. In this study, researchers analyzed 131 archaeological bones using the advanced ZooMS technique, which detects unique chemical fingerprints within collagen, a structural protein found in bones.
Through this innovative approach, the team accurately identified three species of tuna and five varieties of sharks. The findings, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, underscore the effectiveness of ZooMS in enhancing the accuracy of ancient fish remain identification. The technique achieved a 97% confidence rate in identifying bones from the tuna family, with the majority being 75 skipjack tuna and a few yellowfin tuna and wahoo.
Implications for Understanding Prehistoric Societies
The research team also uncovered a diverse range of shark species. Out of 50 samples successfully fingerprinted, findings included 20 silky sharks, 11 Galapagos sharks, 17 silvertip sharks, and one whitetip reef shark. These discoveries not only shed light on the fishing techniques employed by ancient Pacific Islanders but also provide a clearer picture of how these practices influenced their social structures and cultural narratives.
The study’s lead author, Clara Boulanger, emphasized the importance of expanding existing reference databases to further enhance the potential of ZooMS. Such advancements in molecular-level techniques could fill existing gaps in species identification and deepen our understanding of how fishing habits shaped early societies in the Pacific.
Overall, this research marks a significant step forward in the field of archaeology and offers new avenues for exploring the intricate relationships between human practices and environmental resources in ancient cultures.
