Ancient fishing nets resurrected from pottery using X-ray CT

In an archaeological achievement, researchers from Kumamoto University have successfully reconstructed the structure of prehistoric fishing nets from the Jomon period (ca. 14,000,900 BCE) by analyzing impressions preserved in ancient pottery using advanced X-ray computed tomography (CT). This marks the first time in the world that nets from over 6,000 years ago have been digitally and physically resurrected in such detail. The research is published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

Led by Professor Emeritus Hiroki Obata from Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kumamoto University, the team examined pottery unearthed from sites in Hokkaido and Kyushu—regions in northern and southern Japan respectively—where ancient net impressions remained hidden inside and on the surfaces of ceramic fragments. By using high-resolution X-ray CT imaging alongside silicone cast replication techniques, the researchers visualized and reconstructed the nets’ intricate structures, including thread twists, knot types, and mesh sizes.

The study revealed a rich diversity in net-making techniques between regions. In northern Japan’s Hokkaido region, large-mesh nets with tightly tied “reef knots” were found embedded in the clay coils of so-called Shizunai-Nakano style pottery. These nets, believed to have been used for ocean fishing, were then repurposed as structural core materials in pottery making—a practice suggesting the early reuse and recycling of tools.

In contrast, pottery from the southern Kyushu region, dating to the Final Jomon and early Yayoi periods (ca. 3,200,2,800 years ago), contained fine-mesh nets tied with simpler overhand knots or using “knotted wrapping” methods. These nets likely served as molds or release agents during pottery production and may have originally been used as bags.

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Remarkably, the study also estimated the labor involved in net production, suggesting that crafting a single fishing net could take more than 85 hours—highlighting the value of these tools and the cultural importance of their reuse. “This reuse of materials reflects an early form of sustainability, akin to today’s SDGs,” said Prof. Obata.

The findings challenge previous assumptions that all net impressions represented fishing gear and demonstrate that not all preserved impressions can be interpreted as functional nets. Instead, the nets appear to have had multiple lives—first as tools for fishing or carrying, and later as integral elements in the creation of pottery.

This study not only reconstructs ancient technology but also opens new doors for identifying and preserving other vanished organic materials in archaeological contexts.