Unusual Archaeology: Ancient Chambers and Ocean Tides (Part 1)

Science Quickly

Scientific American

Science

4.4 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 26 July 2024

⏱️ 17 minutes

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Summary

Fish trapping is an ancient practice, reaching across the globe from at least as far back as 11,000 years ago. It takes advantage of coastal tides and human-made chambers to catch and release fish. The simple but ingenious ancient fishing structures are built on two intertwining principles: the ocean can provide for us if we properly care for it. Archaeologists are mapping the possible locations of ancient traps. And on Penghu, a group of islands off of Taiwan, people are reviving the traditional tidal weirs, hoping to promote sustainable fishing and attract ecotourism. Stay tuned for more from science journalist Kata Karáth in part two of our three-part Fascination series on unusual archaeology. Recommended reading: – Oldest Deep-Sea Shipwreck Is a ‘Time Capsule’ from the Bronze Age – The Oldest-Wine-in-the-World Title Goes to a 2,000-Year-Old White Found in Southwestern Spain E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover! Discover something new every day: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter. Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel Feltman and journalist Kata Karáth. Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck fact-check our show. The theme music was composed by Dominic Smith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	What do you think of when you hear the word archaeology?
0:04.3	Maybe your mind goes straight to Indiana Jones or perhaps you picture real world academics
0:09.7	in the field.
0:10.7	Ones who handle their dusty desert dig sites and crumbling artifacts with far more care.
0:17.9	But studying how ancient humans lived and died isn't just about brushing dirt away from pottery shirts.
0:24.0	Harrison Ford might not deserve any awards for scientific accuracy,
0:28.0	but Indiana Jones gets at least one thing right.
0:31.0	Archaeology is a field packed the brim with excitement and adventure.
0:36.3	You just have to know where to look.
0:38.9	For science quickly, I'm Rachel Feltman.
0:41.2	You're listening to the first episode of a three-part fascination on the thrilling world of archaeology.
0:47.0	I'm joined by award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist Katakharath.
0:52.0	Over the course of the next three Fridays, she'll filmmaker and journalist Kata Karath.
0:52.7	Over the course of the next three Fridays,
0:54.8	she'll take us everywhere from the mountaintops
0:57.1	to the stars to show us a side of archaeology
1:00.2	most people never get to see. Today we'll meet folks who are fishing for clues about ancient humans
1:06.0	in the structures they left behind in the ocean.
1:08.0	Their work could help us understand how our ancestors relied on marine life without exploiting it,
1:15.0	and help protect the people who still use those fishing practices today. When I stand on the coast and look at song fish wheels,fish wheels is real.
1:33.2	I can see living history in front of my eyes.
1:37.1	That's Futsu Young.
	...

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