Ice Age Humans Fished for Salmon: New Evidence Reveals a Prehistoric Diet

First Posted: Sep 22, 2015 09:40 AM EDT

Researchers may have uncovered the earliest known evidence of Ice Age humans in North America. They've found that these early humans in Alaska actually used salmon as a major food source, countering beliefs that Ice Age Paleoindians were primarily big game hunters.

"Salmon fishing has deep roots, and we now know that salmon have been consumed by North American humans at least 11,500 years ago," said Carrin Halffman, one of the researchers, in a news release.

The researchers found human dwellings, tools and human remains along with salmon bones at the ancient site. Ancient DNA and stable isotope analysis verified that the fish remains were sea-run chum salmon that migrated upriver about 1,400 kilometers from where the mouth of the Yukon River now exists. The analysis indicates that modern salmon migrations may have ancient roots, dating back to at least the end of the last Ice Age.

"We have cases where salmon become landlocked and have very different isotopic signatures than marine salmon," said Ben Potter, one of the researchers. "Combining genetic and isotopic analyses allow us to confirm the identity as chum salmon, which inhabit the area today, as well as establish their life histories. Both are necessary to understand how humans use these resources."

In fact, the researchers found the salmon remains in an ancient cooking hearth in a residential structure. This, in particular, reveals that ancient Beringian diets were much broader than previously thought, and that Ice Age humans used complex strategies and specialized technology to obtain their food. In fact, it's possible that salmon fishing may have played a role in the early human colonization of North America.

The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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TagsArchaeology, Archaic Human, Human, Humans, prehistoric humans, human ancestor, Salmon, Food, diet, fish