Fishing in the Neolithic of the middle reaches of Yangtze river (based on the excavated materials of Sanxia region archaeological sites)

Fishing was one of the leading types of industry in the Neolithic of Sanxia region in the Middle Yangtze. Nowadays the traces of economic activity based on fishing were found at more than 40 Neolithic sites. Besides fish bones, teeth and shells of mollusks, fishing tools were found at all the Neolithic sites of the region. The analysis of forms of fishing sinkers and their prevalence showed that in the eastern part of region more elongated pebbles were used that allowed to catch quite long fish, in the western part were found small flat pebbles with two recesses or hoof-shaped ones, small elongated clay sinkers often perforated were also common. These sinkers were suitable for catching small fish in shallow water. Also the inhabitants of the middle Yangtze were able to store fish for a long time.