Pigeon Domestication in Cyprus Pushed Back to 1400 B.C.E.

A recent study in the journal Antiquity suggests that pigeons were domesticated in Cyprus around 1400 B.C.E., which is about 1,000 years earlier than previously thought. Researchers examined 159 pigeon bones from the Late Bronze Age city of Hala Sultan Tekke in southeast Cyprus. Their analysis indicated that the pigeons' diets were similar to those of people at the time, implying they were either fed by humans or scavenging their leftovers. Many bones were found burned and buried in a sacred area, hinting at ritualistic practices. This new evidence challenges the idea of pigeons as just urban nuisances, showcasing their historical roles as messengers and food. Angelos Hadjikoumis from the Cyprus Institute notes this raises questions about the domestication process.