The Evolution of Fishing Gear in the Western Mediterranean from Prehistory to Antiquity: Preliminary Investigations, Limitations and Biases

Abstract Preliminary abstract (150 to 250 words) : This study presents a large-scale survey of fishing gear in the Western Mediterranean, covering the Spanish, French, and Italian coasts, from Prehistory to Antiquity. Based on the meta-analysis of more than 1,500 artifacts from nearly 100 archaeological sites, processed within the ERC MERMAID program, this work aims to establish a comparative overview of fishing gear and its evolution through time. The corpus includes a variety of contexts: open-air sites, rock-shelters, ancient towns, as well as specialized sites such as fish salting or processing facilities. The analysis focuses primarily on hooks and sinkers, which account for the bulk of fishing tool remains, while also incorporating a secondary inventory of complementary equipment (needles, shuttles, harpoons, tridents, traps, gaffs, gorges). With respect to fishhooks, the study examines the diversity of materials (bone, bronze, iron and copper) and changes in size, while sinkers are studied according to their shapes and materials in order to infer the associated fishing practices (coastal vs. offshore fishing; line fishing, longline fishing, net fishing, etc.). Beyond a typological description, this research examines the representativeness of the corpus based on the nature of the sites, coastal environments, and time periods under consideration. It highlights how the type of site (industrial, urban, residential, funeral or ritual context) and the nature of the environment (rocky coasts, lagoons, estuaries) influence both the fishing practices observed and the conditions under which artifacts have been preserved. Furthermore, the study highlights the impact of potential biases in identifying the fishing functions of certain types of equipment, particularly for the earliest periods. By comparing these data, the article questions the relevance of existing typologies in light of regional diversity and proposes a chronological and functional synthesis to better understand fishing strategies in the western Mediterranean basin.