A recent genetic analysis has revealed that the relationship between humans and dogs dates back more than 15,000 years, long before the advent of agriculture. Research published in the journal Nature indicates that these early dogs were already part of hunter-gatherer societies in western Eurasia. Until now, estimates regarding the domestication of dogs ranged between 10,000 and 11,000 years. However, new data suggests that these animals were already in contact with humans during the climatic transition at the end of the last Ice Age.
The difficulties in distinguishing between dogs and wolves complicated the reconstruction of this history, as both exhibit similarities in their skeletal remains. The first study, led by William Marsh from the Natural History Museum in London, highlights dog remains found in Pınarbaşı (Turkey) dating back 15,800 years and in Gough Cave (United Kingdom) from 14,300 years ago. This evidence points to a symbiotic relationship between humans and dogs, where the former may have fed the canines.
Additionally, a second study analyzed over 200 genomes of European dogs, showing significant genetic continuity over time. This research emphasizes that, despite the arrival of new dogs during the Neolithic, existing breeds remained intact. Therefore, the domestication of dogs did not begin in villages but in an environment where cooperation was vital for survival.
