Tuna fishing in the Aegean: biogeographical and archaeological facts

Tatiana Theodoropoulou
Wiener Laboratory, American School of Classical Studies at Athens
tatheod@hotmail.com

Although tuna fishing was a major activity in other parts of the Mediterranean in Antiquity, its role in the Aegean Sea has not been fully studied.

Members of the family Scombridae present in the Aegean are:

the bullet tuna (Auxis rochei), little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus), bonito (Sarda sarda), chub
mackerel (Scomber scombrus), Atlantic mackerel (Scomber japonicus), albacore (Thunnus
alalunga), and the bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus).

FAO

Several authors have suggested in the past that tuna was an important component of Aegean prehistoric economies based on
zooarchaeological evidence from old excavations, where tuna remains were common. This group of fish was also well known to
ancient writers who were intrigued by their migrations and a highly prized foodstuf in Athenian banquets (Archestratus in
Athenaeus’ Deipnosophists).

19th c. tuna watch-towers

Sicilian crater, Lipari 4th c. BC

A growing body of faunal data from a number of sites in the Aegean has recently been added and allows for a better Mesolithic Neolithic Bronze Age Early Iron Age Classical-Hellenistic
overview of the issue (Rose 1994 with overview of older data, Theodoropoulou 2007, Mylona 2008). Tuna migrations Areas of tuna exploitation mentioned in ancient texts

NISP counts
Site Period Auxis rochei Sarda sarda Eythunnus alletteratus Scomber japonicus Thunnus alalunga Thunnus thynnus Ind.
Dimitra Dikili Tash

Franchthi cave ML-NL >500

Saliagos NL 2.608
Limenaria Mikro Vouni
Alepotrypa cave NL >50
Dion
Yioura 75 29 63 6 Troy
Krania
Dikili Tash NL-BA 2
Koukonisi
Dimitra BA 1 1
Yioura MYtilene
Pefkakia BA 1 25 69 (villa)
Pefkakia
BesikTepe BA 17
Troy BA 2 277
Kassope
Limenaria NL-BA 5 180
Koukonisi BA 5
Mikro Vouni BA 1 2 3 1
Koukounaries BA Perachora
1
Perachora BA 2 Corinth
Lerna BA 1 Lerna Franchthi
cave Koukounaries
Akrotiri BA 5 Kalaureia

Kommos BA 2
Saliagos
Kalaureia Cl-Hell 1 6
Pilarou cave
Kassope Cl-Hell Alepotrypa
cave
Corinth Cl-Hell + (amphorae)
Messene Cl-Hell 1
Thera Pilarou cave Cl-Hell 1
Mytilene Cl-Hell + Eleutherna
Krania Cl-Hell +
Kommos
Eleutherna Cl-Hell +
Dion Hell 439 (amphorae) 117 (amphorae)

Tuna fish remains have been found in several sites across the Aegean. Their numbers (NISP) vary considerably from one site to another. Tuna remains first appear in
the Upper Mesolithic (9,000-8,000 BP) layers of Franchthi cave, in significant numbers and sizes, many of which are estimated to belong to individuals over 50 kg.
(Rose 1994).
The percentages and sizes of tuna from the Neolithic onwards suggest that this fish could be a regionally important resource, as in Neolithic Saliagos (Antiparos), but
generally tuna fishing does not seem to be a staple. Of notice is the low representation of tuna in Classical and Hellenistic periods, despite the importance attributed to
them in ancient texts. This image may be due to unsufficient sampling strategies in Classical sites.
Modern fisheries statistics also suggest that tuna accounts for less that 4% of fish catches in the Aegean.

The distribution of faunal evidence of tuna as well as the possible or ascertained areas of tuna exploitation in the Aegean (Argolid, Patra, Megara, Halai Aixonidae,
Troizen, Karystos, Samos, Lesbos, the island of Kastelorizo, Cos, Crete, Halicarnassos) as mentioned in ancient texts, seem to fit the migration routes of this fish.
Tuna shoals approach the eastern coasts of mainland Greece on their way to Western Mediterranean. Immature and adult albacore and bluefin tunas that
have already spawned elsewhere arrive in these waters at the end of August and remain there until the end of November (Tselas 1991).

The seasonality pattern reflected on fish bone assemblages from Northern Aegean confirms this pattern. Observation of growth rings points to early/late autumn
catches of fish (Theodoropoulou 2007, 2012). Tuna and mackerel fish-salting industry was a thriving business in this region since Antiquity, especially in automn.

As a whole, tuna fishing in the Aegean would probably have been regionally important and seasonally dependable.
Earlier Aegean populations seem to have punctually engaged a siginificant exploitation of tuna resources, especially in the zones of tuna migration.
On the contrary, unlike literary evidence on the pronounced taste for tuna in Classical Greece, relevant excavations did not produce significant numbers of tuna remains.
Future research might produce new evidence on tuna fishing by prehistoric and historic Aegean populations.
Bibliography: M. ROSE, With line and glittering bronze hook: fishing in the Aegean Bronze Age (PhD dissertation, Indiana University)(1994); T. THEODOROPOULOU, L’exploitation des ressources aquatiques en Egée séptentrionale aux périodes pré- et protohistoriques (PhD dissertation, Université de Paris 1 Panthéon-
Sorbonne)(2007); D. MYLONA, Fish-eating in Greece from the fifth century B.C. to the seventh century A.D. (BAR International Series 1754)(2008); S. TSELAS, Review of National Fisheries (Greece), in Report of the GFCM-ICCAT Expert Consultation on Evaluation of Stocks of Large Pelagic Fish in the Mediterranean (FAO
Fisheries Report 449), Rome, p. 3-4 (1991).