Fishing in Mesolithic Europe
Although there is growing evidence for the importance of fishing to Mesolithic peoples, many questions concerning fishing methods and extent of exploitation of aquatic resources remain unresolved. This is the first study for five decades to draw together various strands of contemporary knowledge in order to provide an overview of fishing during the Mesolithic period in Europe. Utilisation of fish as a resource is discussed on the basis of the evidence provided by site location, dietary reconstruction from faunal remains, the nutritional value of fish and the chemical analysis of human and animal bone. The fishing practices of European Mesolithic populations are reconstructed from the evidence provided by artefactual and faunal remains. Temporal and spatial variations in fishing activities are assessed. Methods of fish capture are determined in several ways; by examination of the range of fishing gear attested in the archaeological record, by comparison with modes of operating this gear in traditional and modern fisheries, by an investigation of the biology and behaviour of the fish species recovered and, lastly, through statistical assessment of the co-occurrence of fishing gear and fish fauna in archaeological
Pickard, Catriona
Fishing in Mesolithic Europe. Although there is growing evidence for the importance of fishing to Mesolithic peoples, many questions concerning fishing methods and extent of exploitation of aquatic resources remain unresolved. This is the first study for five decades to draw together various strands of contemporary knowledge in order to provide an overview of fishing during the Mesolithic period in Europe. Utilisation of fish as a resource is discussed on the basis of the evidence provided by site location, dietary reconstruction from faunal remains, the nutritional value of fish and the chemical analysis of human and animal bone. The fishing practices of European Mesolithic populations are reconstructed from the evidence provided by artefactual and faunal remains. Temporal and spatial variations in fishing activities are assessed. Methods of fish capture are determined in several ways; by examination of the range of fishing gear attested in the archaeological record, by comparison with modes of operating this gear in traditional and modern fisheries, by an investigation of the biology and behaviour of the fish species recovered and, lastly, through statistical assessment of the co-occurrence of fishing gear and fish fauna in archaeological
fishing mesolithic europe although grow evidence importance fishing mesolithic people many question_concern fish method extent exploitation aquatic resource remain unresolved first study_draw together various strand contemporary knowledge order_provide overview fish mesolithic_period europe utilisation fish resource discuss basis evidence_provide site_location dietary reconstruction faunal_remain nutritional value fish chemical_analysis human_animal bone fishing practice european mesolithic population reconstruct evidence_provide artefactual faunal_remains temporal_spatial variation fish activity assess methods fish capture determine several way examination range fishing attest archaeological_record comparison mode operate traditional modern fishery investigation biology behaviour fish specie recover lastly statistical assessment co_occurrence fishing fish fauna archaeological