People were catching tuna and other fast-swimming offshore fish at least 42,000 years ago, according to fish remains from Jerimalai rock shelter in Timor-Leste. The headline figure of 44,000 years is a broader, rounded framing—not the exact date reported for the tuna remains in the foundational study.
What the Jerimalai evidence shows
A 2011 study by Sue O’Connor, Rintaro Ono, and Chris Clarkson examined fish remains from Jerimalai, a rock shelter in Timor-Leste with a long archaeological record. The authors reported pelagic fish—including tuna—and other fish dating to about 42,000 years before present. Pelagic fish live in the open ocean, rather than close to shore or on the seabed.
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The University of Queensland’s 2011 account of the work reported more than 38,000 fish bones representing 2,843 individual fish. That large assemblage provides evidence of fishing across the site’s occupation, while the study’s abstract specifically places pelagic and other fish remains at around 42,000 years before present. It does not mean every bone in the assemblage is that old.
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Why catching tuna points to maritime skill
Tuna are fast-swimming open-water fish. Reaching and catching them would have required more than collecting shellfish or fishing in a sheltered shallows. O’Connor, Ono, and Clarkson argued that pelagic fishing required planning and complex maritime technology. Their study concludes: “The evidence implies that the inhabitants were fishing in the deep sea.”
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This is an inference from the fish species and archaeological context, not a surviving record of a particular fishing trip. The evidence does not identify the exact boat, hook, line, lure, or capture technique used for each fish. It supports the broader conclusion that people at Jerimalai had the skills and technology to fish offshore.
Why the headline says 44,000 years
The 2011 paper dates the pelagic fish remains to 42,000 years before present. The 44,000-year framing should therefore be read as a rounded or broader reference to the site’s early occupation, not as the precise date established for every tuna bone. For the direct claim about tuna and other pelagic fish, approximately 42,000 years is the more accurate figure.
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- Heavy Duty Construction: Constructed with high-quality materials and a heavy-duty build, the TRHUNTER Offshore Trolling Rod is built to last. The rod's durability and strength provide anglers with the confidence to target and reel in large saltwater species
- Roller Rod Design: This trolling rod features a roller guide system that ensures smooth line movement and reduces friction during intense battles with big game fish. The roller guides also help prevent line wear and improve casting distance for optimal performance
- Versatile Performance: Whether you're trolling for marlin, tuna, or other offshore game fish, the TRHUNTER Offshore Trolling Rod delivers versatile performance. Its responsive action and powerful capabilities make it a reliable choice for serious anglers
Fish bones are not the same as a 42,000-year-old hook
The study also reports early definite evidence for fishhook manufacture, but that does not make a surviving fishhook the dateable proof of every tuna catch. A separate Antiquity article describes a hook from Lene Hara Cave with a measurement of 9,741 ± 60 BP. That is a distinct find at a different cave; it should not be conflated with Jerimalai’s fish remains or converted into a calendar date without a supporting calibrated conversion.
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A 2016 review described tuna bones in Jerimalai’s lowest layer, dated approximately 42,000–38,000 years ago, as the oldest evidence then available for people capturing and using tuna or other fast-swimming offshore fish. That qualification matters: it describes the state of evidence at the time of that review, not a timeless global ranking. The available sources establish the significance of Jerimalai but do not provide a comprehensive comparison of every early fishing site worldwide.
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The most defensible conclusion is that people at Jerimalai were catching pelagic fish, including tuna, around 42,000 years ago. The remains reveal an early capacity for offshore fishing; they do not tell us exactly how each fish was caught.
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