Yes, that’s right. A 2013 study published in the journal Science analyzed the genome of a 31,700-year-old dog skull found in the Altai Mountains of Siberia and found that it belonged to the oldest known domesticated dog.
This suggests that dog domestication may have occurred much earlier than previously thought, as the dog would have lived at a time when humans were just beginning to settle and develop agriculture.
The study also showed that this ancient dog was more closely related to modern dogs than wolves, and that it had a varied diet that included not only meat but also fish and plants. It is thought that the dog may have played a role in helping early humans hunt and forage, as well as providing companionship and protection.
The discovery of a 31,700-year-old dog skull in the Altai Mountains of Siberia provides important new insights into the early history of dog domestication. Not only is this ancient dog the oldest known domesticated dog, it also predates the earliest evidence of the development of agriculture and settled human societies.
This suggests that the domestication of dogs may have occurred much earlier than previously thought, and that it may have been an important factor in the survival and success of early human groups.
Studying the ancient dog’s genome also revealed some interesting insights into its diet and lifestyle. It turned out that the dog had a varied diet that included not only meat, but also fish and plants. This suggests that early dogs were likely scavengers and opportunistic feeders that could adapt to different environments and food sources.
The dog was also found to be closely related to modern dogs rather than wolves, suggesting that early dogs were bred and selected by humans for specific traits and behaviors.
The domestication of dogs is believed to have occurred through a process of mutual domestication in which dogs and humans gradually developed a close relationship over time. Early dogs could provide companionship, protection, and assistance to humans in hunting and foraging, while humans could provide food, shelter, and care for dogs.
This close relationship between dogs and humans has continued to develop over thousands of years, and today dogs continue to play an important role in our lives as pets, working animals, and companions.
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