Unearthing a new chapter in the history of human-canine relations, a team of researchers has uncovered the remains of ancient hunting dogs in Georgia. The discovery, detailed in a recent paper published in Scientific Reports, sheds light on the possible interactions between these early canines and our own ancestors nearly 1.8 million years ago.
Previous research established the existence of an ancient hunting dog species that originated in Asia and migrated throughout Europe and Africa. These dogs were known for their impressive size and social hunting behaviors. Interestingly, the Georgian village of Dmanisi holds the distinction of harboring the oldest remains of early human ancestors ever found outside Africa. This new study reveals that these human ancestors may have shared their environment with these formidable hunting dogs.
The excavation yielded a trove of canine remains, including four skeletons and multiple skulls. Identified as Canis (Xenocyon) lycaonoides, or the Eurasian hunting dog, these individuals were estimated to have weighed around 30 kilograms when alive, potentially young adults. Compared to their modern counterparts, they possessed a stouter build and longer limbs. This discovery marks the oldest such fossil unearthed in Europe to date and the first of its kind at the Dmanisi site.
While the study emphasizes that these remains don’t represent domesticated dogs, a concept estimated to have emerged around 40,000 years ago, the close proximity of the dog and human fossils raises intriguing questions. The possibility of coexistence and even competition for resources cannot be discounted. Modern hunting dogs, known for their rapid eating habits, are a testament to the challenges of securing a meal in a competitive environment.
This discovery offers a fascinating glimpse into a pivotal moment in prehistory. It potentially portrays a period where migrating species – the dogs venturing south towards the Middle East and Africa, and the human ancestors venturing north into Europe and Asia – intersected. The unearthed evidence paves the way for further investigation into the possible interactions between these early carnivores and our own evolutionary lineage.