Fish in Lower Mesopotamia: Faunal Remains and Material Culture Perspectives

This paper investigates the role of fish and fishing equipment in Lower Mesopotamia between the 6th and 3rd millennia BCE. By combining evidence from faunal remains with artifacts related to fishing practices, it explores how aquatic resources were integrated into subsistence, economic strategies, and cultural expressions. Materials from several major sites are considered in relation to their environmental and archaeological contexts, with particular attention to the relationship between settlement location, water systems, and the availability of different taxa. Beyond their practical use, fish also appear in ritual and funerary settings, suggesting symbolic associations that complemented their dietary importance. Overall, the study highlights the multifaceted value of aquatic resources, showing how they contributed to both daily life and broader cultural frameworks in early Mesopotamian societies.