Ancient DNA Reveals Dog Domestication 15,800 Years Ago

New genetic research has revealed that dogs were domesticated and living alongside humans at least 15,800 years ago, pushing back the timeline for humanity's oldest companionship by nearly 5,000 years and confirming their presence across Europe and western Asia long before the rise of agriculture.

Scientists announced the findings in two studies published Wednesday in the journal Nature, based on DNA extracted from more than 200 ancient canine remains at archaeological sites spanning from Britain to Turkey. The oldest specimen, from the Pinarbasi rock shelter in Turkey, dates to 15,800 years ago during the late Paleolithic period, when hunter-gatherer groups roamed the landscape at the end of the last Ice Age. Other early dogs, dated to around 14,200 years ago, were identified at sites including Kesslerloch Cave in Switzerland and Goughs Cave in England.

The research employed advanced techniques to isolate canine DNA from contaminated ancient bones, allowing researchers to distinguish early dogs from wolves more reliably than previous methods relying on skeletal differences alone. Genetic analysis showed these Paleolithic dogs shared a common ancestry, descending from an ancient...