Brazilian shellmounds are archaeological sites with a high concentration of marine faunal remains. There are more than 2000 sites along the coast of Brazil that range in age from 8,720 to 985 cal BP. Here, we studied the ichthyoarchaeological remains (i.e., cranial/postcranial bones, otoliths, and teeth, among others) at 13 shellmounds on the southern coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, which are located in coastal landscapes, including a sandy plain with coastal lagoons, rocky islands, islets and rocky bays. We identified patterns of similarity between shellmounds based on fish diversity, the ages of the assemblages, littoral geomorphology and prehistoric fisheries. Our new radiocarbon dating, based on otolith samples, was used for fishery characterization over time. A taxonomical study of the ichthyoarchaeological remains includes a diversity of 97 marine species, representing 37% of all modern species (i.e., 265 spp.) that have been documented along the coast of Rio de Janeiro state. This high fish diversity recovered from the shellmounds is clear evidence of well-developed prehistoric fishery activity that targeted sharks, rays and finfishes in a productive area influenced by coastal marine upwelling. The presence of adult and neonate shark, especially oceanic species, is here interpreted as evidence of prehistoric fisheries capacity for exploitation and possibly overexploitation in nursery areas. Various tools and strategies were used to capture finfish in seasonal fisheries, over rocky reef bottoms and in sandy littoral environments. Massive catches of whitemouth croaker, main target dermersal species of South Atlantic coast, show evidence of a reduction in body size of approximately 28% compared with modern fisheries. Fishery activity involving vulnerable species, especially in nursery areas, could mark the beginning of fish depletion along the southeastern Brazilian coast and the collapse of natural fish populations.
Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Biologia, Campus do Valonguinho, Outeiro São João Batista, s/n°.CEP: 24020–141, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil;Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Biologia, Campus do Valonguinho, Outeiro São João Batista, s/n°.CEP: 24020–141, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil;Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Biologia, Campus do Valonguinho, Outeiro São João Batista, s/n°.CEP: 24020–141, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil;Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Biologia, Campus do Valonguinho, Outeiro São João Batista, s/n°.CEP: 24020–141, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil;Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Biologia, Campus do Valonguinho, Outeiro São João Batista, s/n°.CEP: 24020–141, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil;Instituto de Pesca, Centro APTA Pescado Marinho, Av. Bartolomeu de Gusmão 192, Santos, São Paulo, CEP: 11030–906, Brasil;Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Museu Nacional, Departamento de Antropologia. Quinta da Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 20940–040, Brasil;Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Museu Nacional, Departamento de Antropologia. Quinta da Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 20940–040, Brasil;Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Biologia, Campus do Valonguinho, Outeiro São João Batista, s/n°.CEP: 24020–141, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil;Palaeontological Institute and Museum, University of Zürich, Karl-Schmid-Strasse 4, Zürich 8006, Switzerland;Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Instituto de Oceanografia, Campus Carreiros, Av. Itália, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, CEP: 96201–900, Brasil;Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Física, Campus da Praia Vermelha, Boa Viagem, CEP: 24210–310, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil;Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Física, Campus da Praia Vermelha, Boa Viagem, CEP: 24210–310, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil;Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Biologia, Campus do Valonguinho, Outeiro São João Batista, s/n°.CEP: 24020–141, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Recommended Citation:
Mariana Samôr Lopes,Thayse Cristina Pereira Bertucci,Luciano Rapagnã,et al. The Path towards Endangered Species: Prehistoric Fisheries in Southeastern Brazil[J]. PLOS ONE,2016-01-01,11(6)