Ancient Canine DNA Studies Reveal Earlier Dog Domestication Timeline

Research published in Nature on March 25 presents genetic evidence that domesticated dogs lived alongside humans in western Eurasia approximately 14,000 to 16,000 years ago, predating agricultural development. Two studies analyzed DNA from over 200 canine remains across sites including Turkey, Switzerland, and England. The oldest confirmed domesticated dog dates to 15,800 years ago from Turkey, with a 14,200-year-old Swiss specimen also identified. Findings indicate dogs descended from a single population and were exchanged among distinct human societies. Later, early farmers entering Europe around 9,000 years ago retained local dogs, with only partial genetic replacement. The work advances understanding of canine origins but leaves open questions about their initial roles and exact domestication location.