Oldest dog DNA suggests 16,000 years of human companionship

A groundbreaking study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday has revealed that the domestication of dogs occurred much earlier than previously estimated. By sequencing the genomes of ancient archaeological remains, including a 15,800-year-old puppy skull found in Pinarbasi, Turkey, researchers from the Francis Crick Institute and Ludwig Maximilian University have pushed the timeline of human-canine companionship back by 5,000 years. This ancient female puppy, which likely resembled a small wolf, lived during the last Ice Age, a time when feeding such an animal would have been a significant investment for hunter-gatherers. The research also highlighted remains in southwest England from 14,300 years ago, illustrating a rapid spread across Europe. Evidence suggests that even before the Neolithic agricultural revolution, humans maintained a profound connection with these animals, using them for hunting and protection, and even burying them alongside their owners.