Fishing practices at the Kryvina Peat Bog as evidenced by the material culture of Asaviec 2 settlement (2008–2017 field seasons)

Abstract Asaviec 2 is one of the most studied settlements of the Kryvina peat bogin Northeastern Belarus. Its anaerobic environment allowed for excellent preservation of organic materials in the cultural layer dating to the end of 4th – first half of the 2nd millennium BC. Numerous artifacts connected with fishingare among the most intriguing material finds. The present publication examines materials from the 2008–2017 field seasons at Asaviec 2, the ichthyologicalcollection of which consists of nearly 75 thousand identifiable fish bonesand bone fragments. The material cultureincludes 68 artifacts associated with fishing, that were made of bone, teeth, bark, wood, stone, and clay. Among them are harpoonpoints, a barbedpoint, a variety of fishing hooks, barbsfrom composite tools, and sharpened bait- fishingtackle ( zerlica / zherlitza ) manufactured from bone and teeth. Large quantities of production waste, blanks, and unfinished fishing hookswere found at the settlement as well. Сlay and stone sinkers, bark floats, as well as remnants of a passive wooden fishing trapwere discovered as well. Fishingequipment discovered at Asaviec 2 has multiple analogues found across culturally similar and geographically near peat bogsettlements of Southeastern Latvia and Northwestern Russia. The material culturespeaks to both individual and collective fishingpractices, and belongs to the Northernbelarusian archaeological culturemainly, dating back to the middle of the 3rd – first half of the 2nd millennium BC. The abundance of fishingartifacts in the cultural layer, the versatility of tool types, as well as high the concentrations of fish boneand scales across the settlement highlight the crucial role of fishingin the dietary strategies of local inhabitants.