Summary
Scientists have found a jawbone in a cave in Somerset, UK, that shows dogs lived closely with humans 15,000 years ago. This discovery suggests dogs were domesticated long before previously thought, tracing back their partnership with humans to the end of the Ice Age.
Key Facts
- A jawbone found in a Somerset cave belonged to one of the earliest known domesticated dogs.
- DNA analysis shows dogs lived with humans in Britain 15,000 years ago.
- This finding suggests dogs were domesticated 5,000 years earlier than previously believed.
- Early dogs likely evolved from grey wolves that stayed near human camps during the Ice Age.
- The jawbone discovery helps identify other ancient dog remains in Europe and Turkey.
- Genetic testing of these remains confirms they were also dogs, reshaping our understanding of when and how dogs became companions to humans.
- The research was published in the journal Nature.
