The broken bones of a dog from 16,000 years ago tell an important story: it was already our pet

Although sometimes we forget it when We look at certain dogsthese animals were wild one day. It is not clear to what exact time Dog domestication beganbut what is evident is that, for humans, it was A ‘technological’ revolution. There are hypotheses that point to a domestication that would have occurred 40,000 or 20,000 years ago, but the most consistent tests point to Some point 14,000 or 17,000 years ago.

There are several deposits in which evidence of the existence of the dog has already been found as a domestic animal, being the specimen found in Guipúzcoa the oldest known to date. In 2021, however, we found more than archaeological remains of a domestic dog: we find the proof that, in the stone age, Humans already worried about these animals.

Maybe Not as much as nowbut there are those who think it was when we started to be ‘Pet Friendly’ as a species.

The Paleolithic dog and the two sides of our early coexistence with them

The discovery occurred when a group of speleologists was exploring the Cave of Baume Traucade to the south of France. In a cavity about 160 meters underground, they found something unique: a practically complete skeleton of an adult bitch. And the analysis Recently published It allows us to know all the details of the copy.

The researchers consider that it is the remains of a dog of about 26 kilos of weight and a height to the cross of about 62 centimeterssimilar to that of a current Husky. With about 16,000 years old, it is in the category of “Paleolithic dog.” This represents the transition stage between the Wild and domesticated specimens. Even so, as impressive as their conservation, taking into account their age, they are the brands they found.

Mietje Germonpréfrom the Institute of Natural Sciences of Belgium, led the analysis and Comment That the humans of the Paleolithic began to collect wolf puppies from their burrows and to raise them at home as ‘pets’. The good condition of its bones allowed a comparative analysis with Lobosmodern dogs and other prehistoric fossils, but above all something caught attention: trauma marks.

The team of researchers found evidence of several broken vertebrae that had healed, indicating that those humans of the past were already worried about caring for dogs when they were injured. However, the story of this specimen has a traumatic end. Literally.

In addition to the bones that managed to heal, the researchers also found two sharp wounds in the scapulae that did not heal. This suggests that they occurred shortly before the animal’s death and, above all, that those wounds were produced by human weapons.

It is impossible to know if he died at the hands of the tribe that took care of it or a rival faction, but it seems clear to infer that, in those early years of domestication, The relationship between dogs and humans was tensewith interest on the one hand, but fear and violence on the other.

And, although finding that moment in which the dog ceased to be a wild animal and became our best friend is fascinating, it is also to verify how that company during millennia is causing that Dogs continue to evolve. The key? Our relationship is now not so based on work, but in closeness.

Image | Paul Bill

In Xataka | There is someone whose brain is synchronized when you look into his eyes. And that someone is your dog