Japanese researchers have found 23,000 years-old fish-hooks, believed to be the world's oldest, in Okinawa Island.
The hooks, which were made from sea snail shells, were discovered in Sakitari cave during excavations and shed light on how humans lived on the island tens of thousands of years ago.
Contrary to previous claims that the island did not have sufficient resources to sustain life for a long period of time, the excavation also found traces of charred birds, frogs, fish and other animals assumed to be consumed by humans.
Researchers suggest that the discovery indicates human existence on the Okinawa Island dates back 35,000 years.
Okinawa, which is the fifth largest island in Japan, is known to have the longest-living population in the world.
