How did the Japanese choose the mysterious 3000-year-old death?

After a methodical study of multiple skeleton injuries, they say the blame is a shark, and they rebuilt the attack with amazing details, writes the American site of CNET technology.

“Very likely he lost his right foot and left fist in the attack and his other wounds would be fatal because 790 impressions of the teeth reaching the bone were found,” said in a study published in Oxford's Journal of Archaeology Science.

The team of scientists calls this ancient man unfortunate, possibly dying of widespread bloodshed, the oldest confirmed victim of a shark attack yet.

There are newer Greek writings, from the fifth century and drawings of shark attacks from the eighth century BC, and there are other cases imposed by archaeology, even though they are also younger than the Japanese.

The radiocarbon date placed the damaged skeleton between 1370 and 1010 BC, in the age of hunters and collectors called “Jomon”, in the prehistoric, when sharks were also shot. It has been estimated that the human skeleton whose skeleton was found was just over a mile long.

Archaeological doctorate student J. Alice White and Professor Rick Schulting of Oxford first met with this shark victim as part of a major study of violent injuries in the remains of the hunter's skeleton and collectors in the Japanese archipelago. At the University of Kyoto, two scientists encountered a skeleton called “no. 24” It was dug about 1920 by Tsukumo tombs in Okama, South Japan, near the Sea of Seto.

At first, scholars were puzzled by the man's massive injuries. Deep cuts of various sizes and shapes cover the bones, torn left hand, and the right foot was missing. It was not clear how or why another man would cause him such severe injuries, or if it could be the result of an animal attack.

Through the process of elimination, researchers became suspicious of the shark. They investigated the current forensics data on shark attacks to determine their tracks and consulted George Burgess, director of the Shark Research Programme in Florida, who agreed with their assessment that the shark injured the man.

Scientists are a model of injuries in the “Tsukumo No skeleton. 24 “created into a 3D computer model of the human skeleton. The wounds indicate that he was alive at the time of the attack and that he may have lost his fist while trying to defend himself.

We are still vulnerable to water in the same way as Tsukumo No. 24л and we do the same,” said Alice White.

Not sure if “Tsukumo No. 24 “Fishmen hunted, or shark that ended his life was withdrawn from the blood of another prey or bait, said research co-author Mark Hudson, a researcher at Max Planck Institute in Germany.

In any case, Hudson said, the “find not only offers a new perspective in ancient Japan, but is a rare example of archaeologists' ability to rebuild a dramatic episode from the life of a prehistoric community”.

Researchers were able to describe the attack in such detail because the skeleton was found in excellent condition a century ago. Body remains “Tsukumo Number 24 “buried in a pile of shells in accordance with people's habit” Jomon “.

Since the man was quickly removed from the sea and buried, researchers believe that he was fishing with others who tried to help him after the attack. Based on teeth, scientists believe he was attacked by a tiger shark or a white shark. The remains of both species were found in the area.