Archaeologists from the Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie (Germany) and Durham University (England) discovered engravings at the Ice Age site of Gönnersdorf that show the earliest known depictions of fishing.
Gönnersdorf is one of the largest and best documented settlement sites from the late phase of the last glaciation, the Late Upper Palaeolithic or Magdalenian period, approximately 15,500 years ago.
The site is located in the district of Gönnersdorf in the northern part of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
It was discovered in 1968, with traces of a well-preserved settlement in situ, protected by a pumice layer from an eruption at the Laacher See volcanic caldera.
The earliest known depictions of fishing
Previous excavations have revealed numerous dwellings divided into four zones, in addition to more than 81,000 stone artifacts, figurines, various tools, weapon parts, jewelry, and ivory and bone artefacts.
In a recent study, carried out with the help of advanced imaging techniques, archaeologists discovered stone plaques made of schist.
They feature engravings depicting ancient fishing practices, including grid-like designs believed to represent fishing nets or traps.
Fishing technologies may have appeared earlier than thought
“By studying the nature of the cut marks that form the engravings, research begins to identify individual artists and their particular styles,” said LEIZA, according to HeritageDaily.
“The finds significantly enrich the Ice Age art collection and provide insight into the social practices of late Upper Paleolithic hunter-gatherers, whose art at Gönnersdorf includes detailed depictions of animals vital to survival as well as stylized human figures.”
This study also presents the earliest known depictions of fishing nets or traps from European prehistory, indicating that fishing technologies may have appeared much earlier than previously thought.
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Source: www.descopera.ro
