A groundbreaking discovery has shed light on Stone Age net fishing practices, thanks to advanced imaging technology that has provided a digital boost to magnification. Engravings depicting scenes of fish caught in large nets have been uncovered on eight stones found at Gönnersdorf, a 16,000-year-old archaeological site in Germany. These previously unnoticed engravings have been detailed in a study published in the journal PLOS ONE on November 6.
Archaeologist Jérôme Robitaille of Monrepos Archaeological Research Center and Museum for Human Behavioral Evolution in Neuwied, Germany, describes the newly revealed engravings as marking Gönnersdorf as the only known Upper Paleolithic site in Europe, and possibly worldwide, that visually represents net-fishing practices.
The excavations at Gönnersdorf in the late 1960s and early 1970s unearthed a variety of artifacts, including animal bones, headless female figurines, and now, engraved stones. For this recent study, researchers examined approximately 400 engraved stones, or plaquettes, from Gönnersdorf using reflectance transformation imaging (RTI). This innovative technique allowed the researchers to manipulate light and shadow on digital versions of the engraved surfaces, uncovering intricate details that had previously gone unnoticed.
Previous studies had identified simple depictions of fish with forked tails on four plaquettes. However, with the application of RTI, it was revealed that one of these plaquettes featured a grid of cross-hatched lines, likely representing a net surrounding the fish. Additionally, seven more plaquettes were discovered to contain similar scenes of nets and fish.
These findings align with other discoveries at Gönnersdorf, such as fish bones and evidence of textile production, including potential weaving tools. The presence of textiles, baskets, and rope at a few other Upper Paleolithic sites suggests a broader use of such materials during this time period.
The use of nets for fishing in the Stone Age would have required cooperative efforts to set up and operate, especially when targeting large numbers of migrating fish in rivers. Gönnersdorf, situated on the Rhine River, likely served as a seasonal gathering place for hunter-gatherer groups capable of organizing such fishing expeditions.
In conclusion, the discovery of these engraved stones at Gönnersdorf provides valuable insights into the fishing practices of Stone Age communities, highlighting the sophistication and cooperation required for successful net fishing operations.
