In addition to the revelation that hunting began at least 5000 years ago, new research carried out in Brazil reveals that the practice did not begin in the Arctic.
Humans started hunting whales much earlier than previously believednot in the icy waters of the Arctic, according to new research that points to tropical South America as one of the first centers of organized whaling.
The published in Nature Communications suggests that indigenous communities along the southern coast of Brazil actively hunted large whales at least 5000 years ago.
The research was led by scientists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, who examined archaeological sites around Babitonga Bay in southern Brazil. The area was once home to the sambaqui people, known for building large middens along the coast. Until then, it was believed that these communities depended mainly on fishing and shellfish harvesting.
In several coastal locations, researchers identified more than 100 remains of whales and dolphins. These include southern right whales, humpback whales, blue whales, sei whales, sperm whales and several species of dolphins. Many of the bones had clear cut marks, indicating deliberate slaughter by humans rather than the opportunistic exploitation of stranded animals.
Some cetacean remains have also been found buried in human graves, suggesting that whales had cultural or symbolic importance for these communities. Such discoveries challenge long-held assumptions that ancient South American societies did not possess the tools or organization necessary for active whaling.
Previous studies had hinted at the prehistoric use of whales in the region, but lacked definitive proof. The absence of specialized hunting tools fueled the belief that ancient people simply fed on beached whales. New research challenges this view with the discovery of whale bone harpoons along the southern coast of Brazil, including one dated to around 5000 years ago.
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“The data reveals that these communities had the knowledge, tools and specialized strategies to hunt big whales thousands of years earlier than we had assumed,” lead author Krista McGrath said in a statement.
The study also offers information about the historical ecology of whales. The large number of humpback whale remains suggests that the species’ breeding range once extended further south than it does today. Researchers say the recent increase in the number of humpback whale sightings in southern Brazil may reflect a gradual return to ancestral habitats after centuries of industrial whaling.
