Scientists Push Back Timeline of Dog Domestication by 5,000 Years
Recent studies published in the journal Nature have revealed new insights into the domestication of dogs, suggesting that the timeline for when dogs became companions to humans has been pushed back by at least 5,000 years. Researchers examined ancient canine DNA from over 200 dog and wolf remains, with the oldest dating back to approximately 15,800 years ago. This research indicates that dogs descended from an ancient population of gray wolves in Europe or Asia, which gradually adapted to living with humans and became less aggressive. The studies highlight the longstanding relationship between humans and dogs, which has persisted for thousands of years. Despite the new findings, the exact time and location of dog domestication remain uncertain, as scientists continue to study DNA from ancient dog and wolf remains to uncover more details about the earliest dogs. 
