Nacreous fish-hooks from middle chalcolithic Tel Tsaf, Israel in context

Nacreous fish-hooks have been in use by humans for over 20 ka, the oldest example coming from East and Southeast Asia. However, the earliest known examples from Southwest Asia are hooks made of bone, from about 12 ka ago. At Tel Tsaf, dated to the late sixth-early fifth millennium cal BCE, two nacreous shell fish-hooks were discovered. The items are tiny, only 10–16 mm long, raising questions on their purpose and efficiency. We find that similar items dated to the fifth millennium BCE are known mostly from the Southern Arabian Peninsula, albeit stylistically different and from the Nile River Valley. In this paper we explore the possible origins and function of these unique fish-hooks and conclude that the Nile Valley is a more likely source.