New evidence pushes back large baleen whale hunting in South America by over 1,000 years. At the Sambaquí Sambaqui shell mounds in Babitonga Bay, Brazil, researchers found harpoon shafts and bone tools alongside remains of southern right, humpback, blue, and sei whales. Collagen fingerprinting identified the species. 🐋🇧🇷
Ancient whale hunting in Brazil dated to 5,000 years ago
Key facts
- 5,000 years ago on southern coast of Brazil
- Sambaki shell mounds in Babatonga Bay
- Southern right whales, humpback whales, blue whales, sei whales, sperm whales, and dolphins hunted
- Bone tools and harpoon shafts made from whale bone
- Cut marks on bones indicate butchery
- Collagen peptide mass fingerprinting used to identify whale species
- Radiocarbon dating of human and cetacean bone specimens
- Harpoon shafts among largest documented from South American archaeological sites
- Pushes back earliest date for large baleen whale exploitation by over 1,000 years
Sources
ancientcyprus.com
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