Archaeologists have found convincing evidence that people were already actively hunting and consuming sharks around 7,000 years ago. A discovery that re-evaluates our understanding of early coastal societies and their relationship with large marine predators.
The finds come from a Neolithic burial site at Wadi Nafūn in present-day Oman. In analysing human remains, researchers identified chemical signatures that point to a diet heavily influenced by marine resources — including apex predators such as sharks.
Chemical evidence in ancient teeth
Because of the region’s extreme desert conditions, organic remains were poorly preserved. To still infer diet, scientists employed stable isotope analysis on the mineral components of teeth and bones. The results showed elevated nitrogen and carbon isotope values, typical of the regular consumption of marine animals at the top of the food chain.
The data indicate that shark meat was not a rare or incidental part of the diet, but a significant and recurring food source for this community.
Additional finds at the site, including shark teeth and stingray spines, support the idea that the Neolithic population deliberately exploited marine resources.
A maritime culture showing adaptability
The burial complex, in which the remains of more than 70 individuals were discovered, was in use for several centuries. This long-term occupation suggests that shark fishing was firmly integrated into the community’s lifestyle and diet and was not an isolated occurrence.
The findings challenge the long-held assumption that early human groups relied primarily on terrestrial hunting and gathering before agriculture became widespread. Instead, they present a picture of an adaptable society capable of deliberately exploiting even large and potentially dangerous marine predators.
According to the researchers, these could be some of the earliest direct evidence to date of systematic shark hunting by humans.
New perspectives on the diets of early societies
The study forms part of a growing body of research suggesting that prehistoric coastal populations were more technologically skilled and ecologically nuanced than long assumed.
Further investigations, including microscopic analyses of dental calculus, are intended to determine which shark species were actually consumed and how the overall composition of the diet can be described in greater detail.
The discovery highlights not only the adaptability of early humans but also the long and complex relationship between humans and sharks, a connection that spans millennia.