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Image Credit: Patricia del Amo Martín
Whale Hunting in South America Began 5000 Years Ago
New archaeological research shows that Indigenous communities in southern Brazil were hunting large whales around 5,000 years ago, pushing back the origins of organized whaling by about one thousand years earlier than previously believed. The findings, published in Nature Communications, challenge long-standing views that large-whale hunting first emerged among postglacial societies of the Northern Hemisphere.
The study focuses on the coastal region of Babitonga Bay, where prehistoric communities built sambaquis—monumental shell mounds created during the Holocene. Analysis of extensive bone collections from these sites indicates the development of specialized technologies and strategies for hunting large cetaceans, rather than relying solely on stranded animals.
Researchers examined hundreds of whale bones and bone tools using zooarchaeological methods, typological study, and molecular analysis. Remains of several large whale species were identified, many bearing clear cut marks linked to butchering. The discovery of large whale-bone harpoons, among the biggest known in South America, further supports evidence for active hunting.
Beyond rewriting the timeline of early whaling, the study highlights the emergence of complex maritime cultures along the Atlantic coast of South America. The findings suggest that these coastal societies integrated large marine animals into their economies, technologies, and ritual practices, demonstrating a level of social organization and seafaring expertise previously underestimated.
The research also provides valuable ecological insights, indicating that some whale species once ranged further south than their modern breeding grounds, information that may help inform current conservation efforts.
Published on: 09-01-2026
Edited by: Abdulmnam Samakie