Ancient dog DNA suggests 16,000 years of human companionship
Researchers have discovered the oldest dog DNA, found in a skull in modern-day Turkey, suggesting dogs may have been human companions for 16,000 years. The discovery sheds light on the origins of dogs, which are believed to have diverged from grey wolves, and their role among humans during the last Ice Age.
Scientists have found the oldest dog DNA in a skull in Turkey, dating back 15,800 years. This discovery suggests dogs may have been human companions for 16,000 years, 5,000 years earlier than previously thought. The dog, a female puppy, likely looked like a small wolf. Researchers also found genetic evidence in southwest England dating back 14,300 years, showing how early dogs spread across Europe. The role of these dogs among humans is unclear, but they may have been used for hunting or protection. Dogs were likely important to human ancestors, and their domestication may have occurred well before the Neolithic agricultural revolution.
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