Biblical fishermen lured fish with fire, reveals study

Fishermen around areas mentioned in the New Testament lured fish with fire, excavation of fishing gear found in a 7th century shipwreck off the coast of Dor, Israel, west of Galilee, where Jesus is said to have preached, has revealed.

Washington, Sept 27 : Fishermen around areas mentioned in the New Testament lured fish with fire, excavation of fishing gear found in a 7th century shipwreck off the coast of Dor, Israel, west of Galilee, where Jesus is said to have preached, has revealed.

The standout item among the found gear is a fire basket, the first evidence for "fire fishing" in the ancient eastern Mediterranean.

Early images and writings indicate fires were lit in such baskets, which were suspended in giant lantern devices from the end of fishing boats. Light emitted from the fire both attracted and illuminated fish, as well as other sea creatures, like octopus, which men then speared or captured in nets.

"Striking at night is classified as fire hunting," said archaeologists Ehud Galili and Baruch Rosen, who excavated the shipwreck, adding that the ancient Greek philosopher Plato wrote about the practice, which involved striking fish forcefully from above or below the water.

The scientists said the fact that Plato wrote about this method "reflected the importance of fire fishing in the ancient Mediterranean".

The researchers, from the Israel Antiquities Authority, further said the method was practiced throughout the New Testament era and for several centuries thereafter.

According to a Discovery News report, the shipwreck also yielded, apart from an iron fire basket, rectangular lead fishing net sinkers used to weigh down cast nets.

A five-pronged fishing spear made of iron was also in the wreck, as was a tubular, iron sounding lead, the report said.

Sounding leads are metal bobs used to measure water depth. Fishermen would fill the hollow portion with tallow, attach the bob to the end of a sounding line, and then fling them over the side of the boat. Both the length of the line and debris stuck to the tallow would indicate depth measurement.

The scientists think the sounding lead provides further evidence for fire fishing at night, since fishermen then charted their course using the stars, but would need the sounding lead "to locate a specific fishing ground".

"When returning home at night, or in conditions of low visibility, the sounding lead was an essential navigational aid," the researchers said.

The findings are scheduled for publication in The International Journal of Nautical Archaeology.

ANI