Ancient Fishing Weights Suggest 20,000-Year-Old Netting Tradition in Israel

Archaeological discoveries at the Jordan River Duraidjat site in northern Israel indicate that ancient fishermen were actively using nets to catch fish along the shores of Lake Hula as early as 20,000 years ago. This finding extends the known history of net fishing in the region by an additional 10,000 years beyond previously discovered bone hooks from the same area, dated to 12,000-13,000 years ago. Researchers unearthed 289 limestone pebbles, with 167 showing distinct markings such as notches, rounded edges, and scratch traces. The oldest of these pebbles exhibit cross-shaped marks from rope bindings and wood fibers, suggesting they were standardized weights for fishing nets. This standardization of weight and the presence of specific markings point to a developed and consistent fishing technology. The continuous tradition highlights the enduring human ingenuity and adaptation in fishing practices over millennia, even as the original Lake Hula was drained in the 20th century. The findings were preserved in the Jordan River's bottom sediments.