Dog bone from 15,800 years ago turns out to be a dog, not a wolf

A dog skull unearthed 20 years ago at a hunter-gatherer site in central Turkiye has been confirmed as evidence dating back the history of humans and dogs as companions by 5,000 years. According to a study published in the international academic journal 'Nature', DNA analysis of three dogs found in a pit above buried human remains revealed that they were not wolves but early domesticated dogs.

At the time, the excavation team was unable to determine whether the bone was a wolf or a dog due to its small size. As a result of radiocarbon dating, it was estimated to be about 15,800 years ago, which is almost 5,000 years before the oldest dog identified up to that time, so it was considered highly likely that it was a wolf.

Why this discovery is important

Dogs are the first animals domesticated by humans. Previous academic circles believed that dogs were domesticated about 11,000 to 12,000 years ago, but this study reset the time to 16,000 years ago. This suggests that humans and dogs already had a close relationship in hunter-gatherer societies in the late Paleolithic period, long before agriculture began.

A joint research team involving the University of Oxford and the University of Liverpool identified similar dog remains in ancient burial sites throughout Western Eurasia, from Switzerland to the UK, in addition to the Turkicye ruins. Dr William Marsh, from the Natural History Museum, said: "The dogs discovered thousands of kilometers apart were very similar genetically, showing that dog domestication had already spread widely throughout the region, despite being with completely different human groups culturally, genetically and behaviorally."

Evolution of human-dog relationships over thousands of years

The history of dog domestication went beyond simple animal use and developed into an emotional bond. Archaeologist Douglas Baird, who conducted the first excavations at Türkiye, discovered interesting differences at another nearby hunter-gatherer site. In the first site, dogs were buried 'near' human remains, but in the second site, they were buried 'along with' humans. This is a clue that over time, dogs have evolved from simple hunting helpers to emotional companions.

The transition from wolves to dogs was a gradual process over thousands of years. The accepted theory in the academic world is that docile individuals among wolves that foraged near human settlements selectively bred to become the ancestors of today's dogs. This discovery raises the possibility that this domestication process occurred simultaneously, over a wide area, and at a much earlier time than previously assumed.

Future outlook [AI analysis]

This study is likely to serve as an opportunity to reevaluate the role of dogs in the history of human civilization. 16,000 years of companionship history means that dogs were with humans before agriculture, settled life, and even urban civilization. If additional evidence is discovered in older historical sites due to the development of DNA analysis technology in the future, the possibility that the time of domestication may be brought forward further cannot be ruled out.

Ancient DNA research is also expected to be used to trace the origins and evolutionary paths of modern dog breeds. Genetic similarities discovered throughout Western Eurasia are expected to provide new clues to reveal the migration routes and cultural exchanges of early humans.