Oldest genetic evidence of domestic dogs identified in Europe and Türkiye
Research published in Nature has changed what is known about the origins of domestic dogs. The 15,800-year-old remains found in Pınarbaşı, Karaman, revealed that humans lived with dogs during the hunter-gatherer period and formed a strong bond with them.
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A major study published in the world's most prestigious scientific journal Nature has changed the story of dog domestication. The 15,800-year-old dog remains found in Pınarbaşı, Karaman, proved that humans "shared their meals" with dogs while they were still hunter-gatherers, before the transition to agriculture.
Traces of the oldest bond humanity formed with nature have come to light in the heart of Anatolia. An international study conducted by scientists from Oxford, Liverpool, and the Natural History Museum in London examined Ice Age remains in Türkiye and Europe, revealing a striking truth: dogs entered our lives 5,000 years earlier than previously estimated, approximately 16,000 years ago.
PINARBAŞI: THE CENTER OF THE FIRST DOMESTICATION
The most critical point of the research was the Pınarbaşı archaeological site near Karaman. Ancient DNA and isotope analyses performed on the dog bones found here showed that these animals had completely diverged from wild wolves. According to the findings, the hunter-gatherer communities in Pınarbaşı had taken dogs into their lives before they had domesticated any plants or animals such as sheep and goats.
THEY FED THEM FISH AND BURIED THEM TOGETHER
What makes the discovery shocking is the emotional bond beyond "domestication." Analyses proved that these ancient dogs were specifically fed fish by humans. Moreover, when these loyal friends lost their lives, they were carefully buried next to humans, on top of graves, just like a family member. This "ritualistic burial" from 16,000 years ago shows that dogs were not just hunting assistants, but a part of the household.
"ANATOLIA IS THE ANCESTOR OF MODERN DOGS"
Dr. William Marsh, one of the co-authors of the study, states that these dogs found in Pınarbaşı and Gough’s Cave in England are the direct ancestors of the European and Middle Eastern dog breeds we know today (Boxer, Saluki, etc.). This data confirms that dogs spread rapidly across a vast geography between Anatolia and Europe at the end of the Ice Age.