9. Archaeological Evidence of Dog Domestication
Fossils and archaeological sites provide critical insights into the domestication timeline. One of the earliest and most well-known dog-like remains comes from the Goyet Cave in Belgium, dated to approximately 31,700 years ago. Remains there show features that are more dog-like than wolf-like, although their exact classification is still debated. More conclusive evidence of domesticated dogs appears around 14,000 years ago.
At Bonn-Oberkassel in Germany, a double human burial included a dog, with clear signs of intentional care. The dog had survived a serious illness, likely through human intervention, which suggests an emotional or social bond between the species. In the Near East, Siberia, and East Asia, dog remains begin to proliferate in sites dated to 12,000 – 10,000 years ago, often in domestic contexts. Such findings indicate that dogs had already become integrated into human society by the time agriculture emerged.
