For as long as humans have ventured into the seas, we’ve shared the waters together with sharks. These remarkable creatures hold the title for the world’s oldest evolutionary history of any living apex predator, with roots stretching back at least 400 million years—way older than the dinosaurs.

While shark attacks are rare and often misunderstood, evidence of these encounters has left its bite mark even on ancient human memory. From the skeletal remains unearthed in Japan to mysterious discoveries in South America, the world’s oldest recorded shark attacks provide a glimpse into the early interactions between humans and these top marine predators.

The Tsukumo No. 24 Skeleton (3,000 Years Ago)

The Tsukumo No. 24 skeleton represents one of humanity’s oldest known encounters with a shark. Found in the Tsukumo Shell Mound, an ancient burial site near the Seto Inland Sea in Japan, this skeleton dates back to between 1370 and 1010 BCE, placing it firmly within the late Jomon Period. This era (spanning approximately 14,000 BCE to 300 BCE) was marked by the rich cultural and technological advancements of Japan’s ancient hunter-gatherer societies.

The Jomon people were intricately connected to the sea for they relied on its bounty for food and also for conducting trade. Shell mounds like Tsukumo served both as refuse sites and as burial grounds, reflecting the deep relationship between these coastal communities and the marine environment. The Tsukumo site stands out for providing a vivid glimpse into the challenges and dangers these people faced.

What distinguishes Tsukumo No. 24 is the shocking found evidence of a violent shark attack. The skeleton bore over 790 deep cuts, punctures and gouges across the bones—injuries matching the bite patterns of a large shark. Forensic analysis revealed that both of the man’s legs and one hand were missing, likely severed during the fatal encounter. The wounds suggest the predator was relentless as it attacked the man repeatedly.

The identity of the shark remains speculative, but researchers point to either a tiger shark or a great white shark, both known to inhabit the Seto Inland Sea during that time. These species are opportunistic hunters and the victim was likely fishing or diving when the shark struck; mistaking his movements for prey or reacting to the commotion.

What adds a poignant human dimension to this grim discovery is the evidence of the man’s recovery and burial. Despite the traumatic nature of his death, his remains were carefully retrieved and interred within the community’s cemetery, reflecting the social bonds and respect for the deceased among the Jomon people. This cultural act reflects their ability to adapt to the risks of their environment while maintaining strong communal ties.

The Prehistoric Teenage Fisherman of Peru (6,000 Years Ago)

Long before written records, the coastal communities of Ancient Peru viewed the ocean as both a lifeline and an unpredictable force of nature. The latter of which included a notable shark attack that affected the ancient coastal community. Among the earliest evidence of this reality is the skeletal remains of a teenage boy unearthed at a prehistoric site in Paloma, Peru, dating back to approximately 4,000 BCE.

This teenager, estimated to be about 17 years old at the time of his death, provides a distressing glimpse into the life of his community. Likely in his prime years of contributing to his people’s sustenance, he may have been engaged in fishing when tragedy struck. As sharks are natural predators in coastal environments, it’s possible that either his movements or freshly caught fish triggered the attack. His skeleton revealed severe injuries consistent with a shark encounter: missing limbs, including arms and legs, alongside deep gouges and bite marks on the remaining bones. The violent confrontation with a large marine predator—potentially a tiger shark or bull shark—left lasting evidence of the risks faced.

The fact that the community recovered the teenage boy’s body and buried him reflects their societal bond. His loss would have been felt with deep sadness across the community, as young people like him were vital contributors to the survival and prosperity of such small, tightly-knit coastal groups. This discovery also offers invaluable insight into the delicate balance these people maintained between harvesting the sea’s resources and contending with its dangers.

The fisherman’s contributions to his community’s well-being, coupled with their care in recovering and honoring his remains, remind us of the enduring themes of unity and survival in early societies. Cases like this one from Peru also remind us that humanity’s relationship with the ocean is as much about risk as it is about reward.

Herodotus’s Accounts of Shark Attacks (5th Century BCE)

Though much later than both the Japanese and Peruvian discoveries, the Ancient Greek historian Herodotus recorded one of the world’s earliest written accounts of shark attacks through his monumental work, Histories. Writing in the 5th century BCE, Herodotus described how Persian sailors faced the wrath of “sea monsters,” likely sharks, during a naval expedition gone awry. In 492 BCE, during King Xerxes’ invasion of Greece, a storm wrecked a large number of Persian ships off the coast of Mount Athos.

Herodotus recounts how numerous sailors were devoured by these so-called sea creatures, as survivors clinging to debris found themselves at the ocean’s mercy. While the exact species of sharks involved cannot be confirmed, the Mediterranean is known to be home to species like the great white shark and blue shark—both capable of such aggressive behavior.

Herodotus’s vivid account reminds us of humanity’s ancient struggle with the forces of nature and the dangers of uncharted waters. His writings serve as a historical record of how sharks and other marine threats shaped early perceptions of the ocean’s perils.

Understanding Ancient Interactions

What makes these cases extraordinary is not just the evidence of shark attacks but what they reveal about ancient human life. In such instances, the victims were likely fishing or gathering resources in waters, or aquatic habitats that humans happened to travel in, where sharks naturally hunt. Far from being deliberate aggressors, these predators may have been acting on instinct, mistaking human activity for prey or responding to environmental triggers.

These skeletal remains also challenge our perception of sharks. While the media today often portrays them as menacing hunters, sharks have always been far more complex. They are important to maintaining marine ecosystems by controlling prey populations and contributing to the balance of life in the oceans. 

Coexisting with Apex Predators

These ancient cases of shark attacks remind us of humanity’s longstanding connection with the natural world—one filled with both wonder and risk. From the ancient shores of Japan and Peru to the waters of the Mediterranean, humans and sharks have shared the seas for millennia. 

Such ancient shark attack cases showcase the dual role the ocean played for these communities. While the sea is a life-sustaining resource, it occasionally presents unpredictable threats, reminding its inhabitants of the risks of their environment. Despite this, early humans showed great ingenuity and adaptability, thriving along coasts despite the challenges.

Today in our modern world, sharks remain vital to ocean health, even as they face threats from human activity like overfishing and habitat destruction. By understanding the past and respecting these powerful creatures, we can work toward coexistence that benefits both people and the planet. Ancient tales like those of Tsukumo No. 24 or the teenage fisherman teach us that while the sea holds its perils, it is also a place of profound connection and interdependence.

Header Image: Face to face with a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). By Fallows C, Gallagher AJ, Hammerschlag N (2013). Source: CC BY 2.5.

References:

1. Weisberger, Mindy. “Oldest-Known Shark Attack Discovered in 3,000-Year-Old Skeleton with 800 Injuries.” LiveScience, 26 June 2021, www.livescience.com/shark-attack-victim-3000-years-ago.html.

2. Bower, Bruce. “A Skeleton from Peru Vies for the Title of Oldest Known Shark Attack Victim.” Science News, 30 July 2021, www.sciencenews.org/article/peru-skeleton-oldest-known-shark-attack-victim.

3. Bower, Bruce. “Skeletons Point to World’s Oldest Known Shark Attacks.” ScienceNewsExplores, 8 Sept. 2021, www.snexplores.org/article/skeletons-point-to-worlds-oldest-known-shark-attacks.