Translated from Dutch NOS TV:
Fishhooks, oldest in the world, found in Japan
18 September 2016
Archaeologists have found the oldest fishhooks in the world in Japan. They were in a cave on Okinawa island and are estimated to be 23,000 years old.
The hooks are made from a sea snail‘s shell. From this discovery archeologists conclude that fishing techniques have existed already much longer than expected, and were used in more places in the world.
Eels and frogs
Okinawa was first inhabited around 35,000 years ago. Scientists wondered how people there survived all the time. The fishhooks have answered that question.
In Sakitari cave researchers found also remains of eels, frogs, birds and small terrestrial animals. They conclude from that these were also on the menu of the first inhabitants of Okinawa.
Until now, scientists assumed that the fishhook was invented about 16,000 years ago.
They based themselves on a find in East Timor in 2011. In the northern part along the coast hooks were found which were made of shellfish.
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