William R. Belcher

Crabs and other crustaceans are caught and used as a minor food item. These animals are considered extremely "hot" and are eaten for the treatment of ailments such as the flu or colds. Many Asian cultures have a dichotomy of "hot" and "cold" categor… >

Spiny eels are relatively uncommon in the archaeological record and within the general diet of the Punjabi folk. These fish also can survive in extremely environments in soft mud with little water. >

Mornings are usually spent fishing while afternoons are spent repairing nets. Although most nets are now commercially manufactured, repair work is down by the owners or their sons. Fishermen work in groups, either helping each other are larger nets… >

One of the main methods of catching fish is using casting or throw nets. The mesh size (or “eye”) is currently controlled by fisheries laws by the Punjab Province. However, mesh size will vary depending on the target species of fish. Like a sieve… >

The main fish protein source focuses on smaller fish that are caught in the inshore area. One of the main methods used to catch these is a casting net. Unlike other forms of fishing nets, this is an active form of fishing where the fisher stalks the… >

Seine nets are the dominant net used to harvest fish in the oxbows. Again, the “eye” or mesh size of the net is controlled by the Punjabi government, but allow the oxbows to be harvested through a series of sweeps across the entire body of water. … >

Other fish are used for commercial sale, but these inshore fisheries provide the bulk of food for the household. Here a younger member of a local household is pulling up his inshore fixed gill net. The net is fixed in place and catches fish in its m… >

The older nets that were observed in the Punjab had net weights that were made of fired clay, while the modern ones used standard lead net weights. These were the same shape as small barrel beads that were tied with an overhand knot on each side of… >

I currently work as a forensic anthropologist and archaeologist for the U.S. government. I am also the Assistant Field Director of the Harappa Archaeological Research Project (HARP) in central Punjab, Pakistan. Between 1992 and 1995, I studied vario… >

Today large fish are primarily for sale on the commercial market. A fishmonger would arrive from town to purchase the fish and take them to the various urban markets in town. This individual also owns the ice house and the diesel fuel depot in the v… >