Early Holocene Sea Fishing in Western Scotland: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Coastal shell middens, a prominent feature of the Mesolithic archaeological record of western Scotland, suggest a maritime economy based on fishing and shellfishing. Despite evidence for the importance of fish to diet, virtually nothing is known of the fishing methods practiced, although several “models” have been proposed. We tested these models by means of a series of field experiments. A range of experimental fishing gear including lines and portable traps and pots were made utilizing resources and technologies available during the Mesolithic. Fishing experiments were conducted at, or near to, the Scottish west coast Mesolithic sites of Ulva Cave and Sand (Loch Torridon), and also on the island of Colonsay, South Uist, and the Urr Estuary on the Solway Firth. Results suggested that Mesolithic fishers must have had extensive knowledge of tides as well as species behavior to successfully exploit coastal environments adjacent to the west coast midden sites. Additionally, capture of the main fish species (i.e., Pollachius virens, Labridae, and Pollachius pollachius) and brachyurans (Carcinus maenas, Liocarcinus depurator, and Cancer pagurus) identified in the middens did not require sophisticated fishing gear; simple hand-lines sufficed.

Keywords:

• experimental archaeology
• shell midden
• fishing
• Mesolithic
• Scotland

Acknowledgements

We are also grateful to The National Trust for Scotland, Torridon Estate, and Jamie and Tessa Howard (Isle of Ulva) for logistical support. Thanks also to S. Hartwell, J. Coates, R. Henshall, L. Crouse, S. Dinning, C. Robertson, F. Fairbairn, A. MacQuarrie, J. Cook, K. Roper, J. Robinson, R. Van Hove, E. Hardwick, N. Thiemann, A. Wood, A. Sikorska-Mazur, A. Nugée, N. Nugée, L. Guillot, K. Yorkston, C. Hall-Eastman, A. Westra, K. O’Donnell, S. Ritchie, U. Brass, and S. Brass for their assistance in the experimental research. Finally, we thank the anonymous reviewers for their careful reading of our manuscript and insightful comments and suggestions.

SUPPLEMENTAL

Supplemental files are available for this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15564894.2018.1521481

Additional information

Funding

Funding for the project was provided by an Arts and Humanities Research Council scholarship (AH/H019146/1) to P. Groom.