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Alejandro Alcolea
WriterWriter at Xataka. I studied education and music, but since 2014 I've been writing about my passion: video games and technology. I specialize in product analysis, photography, and video. My body is 70% coffee.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
You might forget sometimes, but certain dogs were once wild animals. Their domestication marked a significant “technological” revolution for humans. While the exact moment of dog domestication remains unclear, hypotheses suggest it may have occurred between 40,000 and 20,000 years ago. However, the most consistent evidence points to a timeline of domestication between 14,000 and 17,000 years ago.
Archaeological sites have provided evidence of dogs as domestic animals, with the oldest known specimen found in Spain. In 2021, researchers uncovered new archaeological remains of domestic dogs. They proved that humans were already caring for these animals in the Stone Age.
Although the level of care may not have been as extensive as it is today, some believe that this marked the beginning of humans becoming a pet-friendly species.
The Paleolithic Dog and the Early Coexistence with Humans
A group of speleologists made this discovery while exploring the cave of Baume Traucade in Southern France. Deep within a cavity around 525 feet underground, researchers unearthed a remarkable find: a nearly complete skeleton of an adult female dog. Recent analysis of this specimen has revealed many intriguing details.
The team estimates that the female dog weighed about 57 pounds and had a shoulder height of around 24 inches, similar to a modern husky. Dating back roughly 16,000 years, the skeleton is classified as a “Paleolithic dog,” representing a transitional stage between wild wolves and domesticated dogs. The remains are in an amazing condition, although what’s particularly striking is the markings on its bones.
Author Mietje Germonpré, a researcher from the Institute of Natural Sciences in Belgium, noted that Paleolithic humans began collecting wolf pups from their dens and raising them as pets. The good condition of the bones allowed for a comparative analysis with wolves, modern dogs, and other prehistoric fossils. However, one aspect stood out above all others: the presence of trauma marks on the skeleton.
The research team discovered evidence of several broken vertebrae that had healed, indicating that early humans cared for dogs when they were injured. However, this particular specimen’s story ends on a tragic note.
In addition to the healed bones, researchers found two puncture wounds in the scapulae that didn’t heal. This suggests these wounds were inflicted shortly before the animal’s death and, more importantly, that human weapons caused them.
It remains unclear whether the dog died at the hands of the tribe that had previously cared for it or from a rival group. During the early years of domestication, the relationship between dogs and humans was clearly strained, marked by both interest and instances of fear and violence.
Determining when dogs transitioned from wild animals to man’s best friend is fascinating. However, it’s equally interesting to observe how this companionship has influenced their evolution over the millennia. The key change? Our relationship today is less about work and more about love.
Image | Karsten Winegeart
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