York Academics Reveal Fishy Cooking Habits of North American Hunter-Gatherers

Vinette 1 vessel from the Peace Bridge site, Ontario.
Image Courtesy of Archaeological Services, Inc. and the University of York.

February, 3, 2015.

Saskia Angenent, of the University of York, has written a brief article about recent archaeological findings from the University of York and Queens College, City University New York analyzing organic residue from "approximately 133 vessels from 33 early pottery sites".

"new analysis on pottery vessels indicates that social factors triggered the innovation of pottery. While a wide range of wild animal and plant foods were exploited by hunter-gatherers of north-eastern North America, their pottery was used principally to process fish, and produce fish oil. This suggests that abundant aquatic resources allowed investment in the production of pottery, as fish became a valued exchange commodity and was prepared, cooked and consumed in hunter-gatherer group feasts."

-Saskia Angenent, University of York.

To read the full article, click here.

For more information,

Visit:

• Cooperative harvesting of aquatic resources triggered the beginning of pottery production in north-eastern North America
• Karine Taché and Oliver E. Craig, Antiquity, Cambridge University Press, Vol. 89, Issue 343, February 2015.