Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 35 (2021) 102693 Available online 25 December 2020 2352-409X/© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Capture, processing and utilization of sharks in archaeological context: Its importance among fsher-hunter-gatherers from southern Brazil Simon-Pierre Gilson a, b, * , Andrea Lessa a a Programa de P´ os-Graduaç˜ ao em Arqueologia, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, 20940-040 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil b Laborat´ orio de Estudos Interdisciplinares em Arqueologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Jo˜ ao David, Ferreira Lima, Trindade, Florian´ opolis, SC, Brazil A R T I C L E INFO Keywords: Archaeozoology Archaeological Sharks Shallow site Rio do Meio Brazil ABSTRACT The data obtained from the zooarchaeological remains of the Rio do Meio shallow site allowed for unprecedented discussions about the role of sharks in the lifestyle of fshermen-hunters-gatherers on the Southern Brazilian coast. These groups captured and processed sharks, using their body parts both as a food source and for other purposes, and the animals thus held great cultural signifcance for them. These data also provide a window for refecting on the representativeness of different sampling methods and the diffculties of identifcation in the study of archaeological shark remains. In this respect, the difference between blue sharks (Prionace glauca) and the Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) is to be emphasized. 1. Introduction Studies of faunal remains from Brazilian pre-colonial archaeological sites were carried out since the 19th century, although only more recently there has been a signifcant investment in the methodological development of the discipline. In this sense, the frst approaches begin in the 70 ′ s and 80 ′ s, gaining greater robustness in the 90 ′ s (e.g. de Cunha et al., 1986; Figuti, 1993; Figuti and Klokler, 1996; Garcia, 1970; Lima and de Silva, 1984). In the context of southern and southeastern coast, archaeozoological studies were fundamental in proposing new para- digms regarding the lifestyle of moundbuilder groups, especially as concerns diet and mobility. These analyses brought to light the pre- ponderance of fsh and the secondary role of mollusks as a food source, and also the permanent nature of the settlements, as shown by the consumption of species captured throughout the year (Bandeira, 1992; Bandeira and Fossile, 2014; Figuti and Klokler, 1996; Figuti, 1998; Figuti, 1995; Figuti, 1993). Since then, other studies on food con- sumption of marine resources have been carried out. More recently, the archaeozoology studies have been advancing on some interpretive per- spectives, and symbolic behavior has become an element of discussion (e.g. Klokler, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2008; Plens, 2009). Regarding the occupation of the south and southeast coast, however, the studies were carried out almost exclusively in sambaquis. The so- called shallow sites, precolonial coastal settlements other than samba- quis, have not received the same attention in systematic archae- ozoological studies, with Bandeira (1992) and Bandeira and Fossile (2014) being the only two up to now. Indeed, few shallow sites (with or without ceramics) have been excavated, probably due to their low vis- ibility in the landscape and their location in areas with high real estate speculation, which led to the destruction of many of these sites. In addition to the diffculties in locating and excavating shallow sites, specifc studies on sharks remains are rare, although sharks are often found in the archaeological record. Gonzalez’s thesis (2005) on shark remains from sambaquis of S˜ ao Paulo state is an exception. The author discusses some current fshing techniques in Brazil and traditional techniques in several regions of the world, besides the use of faunal el- ements as instruments or adornments. Alongside the work of Gonzalez, a paper focusing on a more ecological perspective in the Rio de Janeiro region is Lopes and coauthors (Lopes et al., 2016). On shallow sites, two works with ecological perspective have been undertaken with samples from Rio do Meio/SC site and have brought some valuable information about shark ecology in the past, offering preliminary insights about the possibilities of human-shark interactions (Mayer, 2019, 2017). Regarding diet among coastal groups, it is worth mentioning that the work of Borges (2015) on sambaquis of S˜ ao Paulo State shows a varia- tion in shark biomass participation between 7% and 20%, and the work * Corresponding author at: Programa de P´ os-Graduaç˜ ao em Arqueologia, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, 20940- 040 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. E-mail addresses: simonp.gilson@gmail.com (S.-P. Gilson), lessa.mn@gmail.com (A. Lessa). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jasrep https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102693 Received 5 July 2020; Received in revised form 20 November 2020; Accepted 20 November 2020