Indigenous communities in southern Brazil hunted large whales 5,000 years ago, according to new research from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology at the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona and the Department of Prehistory of the UAB. The study, led by researchers Krista McGrath and André Colonese, reveals that these communities built specialized tools, planned strategies, and social systems that made large-whale hunting possible far earlier than previously thought. The evidence comes from sambaquis, monumental shell mounds built by Holocene societies along Brazil's coast, which preserved bones, tools, and burials across long spans of time. The team studied hundreds of cetacean bones and bone tools from the Babitonga region, housed at the Museu Arqueológico de Sambaqui de Joinville in Brazil. The research combines archaeology, lab science, and tool analysis to answer a basic question: Did people hunt whales, or only use stranded animals? The results show a striking variety of marine life, including remains of southern right whales, humpback whales, blue whales, sei whales, sperm whales, and dolphins. Many bones show clear butchery marks, and the study documents large whale-bone harpoons, some of the largest found in South America. The evidence supports active hunting rather than simple scavenging, and the study frames whaling as a meaningful part of the economy and identity of these coastal communities. The findings also carry ecological value, suggesting a broader historical distribution of humpback whales than currently known, which may reflect a historical recolonization process. This research reshapes how scientists search for the roots of complex maritime life, pushing them to look beyond the Northern Hemisphere. It highlights the value of revisiting older museum archives with newer techniques, especially when original sites have been lost, and supports conservation planning by offering a longer view of whale distribution. The study strengthens public understanding of Indigenous history along Brazil's coast, revealing these communities as organized maritime specialists with technology, cooperation, and ritual life tied to the ocean.
