5,000-year-old whale bone harpoons found in Brazil. Whale bone harpoons dating back 5,000 years identified in southern Brazil First evidence that indigenous communities hunted large whales before metal tools or advanced boats Harpoons crafted from bones of southern right whales, humpbacks, sei whales, and blue whales
Whale bone harpoons from nearly 5,000 years ago in Brazil show indigenous communities hunted large whales before metal tools or advanced boats existed. Harpoons were crafted from southern right, humpback, sei, and blue whale bones. Researchers Susan de Rosia-Vieira, José Souto, and team pushed back organized whaling by 2,500 years 🐋
Key Facts
- Whale bone harpoons dating back 5,000 years identified in southern Brazil
- First evidence that indigenous communities hunted large whales before metal tools or advanced boats
- Harpoons crafted from bones of southern right whales, humpbacks, sei whales, and blue whales
- Artifacts recovered from Sambaqui shell mounds near Babitonga Bay
- Items collected from area in 1940s-1960s and stored in local museum, re-examined by team from Spain and Brazil
- Lead researcher Christina McGrath from Autonomous University of Barcelona
- Pushes back date of organized whaling by 2,500 years compared to previous understanding of North American societies
Related site: Sambaqui — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: LIVE ~ PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS From Around the World by The Prehistory Guys