World
AI Analysis
Man's older friend: New study finds dogs lived with humans 5,000 years earlier than thought | Euronews
AI
AI Legal Analyst
Summary
By  Mohammad Shayan Ahmad  with  AP Published on 28/03/2026 - 9:27 GMT+1 Share Comments Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp Ancient DNA has revealed that domestic dogs lived alongside humans more than 15,000 years ago, reframing our understanding of their origins and societal significance. The studies, both published in the journal Nature , analysed ancient DNA from the remains of over 200 dogs and wolves. Ancient dog jawbone that was found in the Kesserloch cave in Switzerland Cantonal Archaeological Service of Schaffhausen/ Ivan Ivic via AP Photo Scientists have long known that dogs descended from grey wolves during the last Ice Age, but the exact timeline of this transition - and how they initially looked - has remained a mystery. The research also highlights that there has always been a unique human-dog bond, with chemical analysis of remains found in Türkiye suggesting that ancient dogs were eating fish - the same diet as nearby humans.
## Summary
By  Mohammad Shayan Ahmad  with  AP Published on 28/03/2026 - 9:27 GMT+1 Share Comments Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp Ancient DNA has revealed that domestic dogs lived alongside humans more than 15,000 years ago, reframing our understanding of their origins and societal significance. The studies, both published in the journal Nature , analysed ancient DNA from the remains of over 200 dogs and wolves. Ancient dog jawbone that was found in the Kesserloch cave in Switzerland Cantonal Archaeological Service of Schaffhausen/ Ivan Ivic via AP Photo Scientists have long known that dogs descended from grey wolves during the last Ice Age, but the exact timeline of this transition - and how they initially looked - has remained a mystery. The research also highlights that there has always been a unique human-dog bond, with chemical analysis of remains found in Türkiye suggesting that ancient dogs were eating fish - the same diet as nearby humans.
## Article Content
By 
Mohammad Shayan Ahmad
 with 
AP
Published on
28/03/2026 - 9:27 GMT+1
Share
Comments
Share
Facebook
Twitter
Flipboard
Send
Reddit
Linkedin
Messenger
Telegram
VK
Bluesky
Threads
Whatsapp
Ancient DNA has revealed that domestic dogs lived alongside humans more than 15,000 years ago, reframing our understanding of their origins and societal significance.
Dogs have been man's best friend for a very, very long time. Much longer, it turns out, than scientists had previously been able to prove.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Two new separate studies have uncovered the oldest known genetic evidence of domesticated dogs across Europe and Asia. These date back to between 15,800 and 14,000 years ago - roughly 5,000 years earlier than other genetic records suggested.
“This is the earliest clear genetic evidence we have for domestic dogs,” Pontus Skoglund, co-author of one of the studies and a geneticist at the Francis Crick Institute in London, UK, said.
The studies, both published in the journal
Nature
, analysed ancient DNA from the remains of over 200 dogs and wolves. They identified key remains from sites across Europe and Asia, including Pınarbaşı in central Türkiye and Gough’s Cave in southwest England.
Collectively, their findings reveal a clearer picture of dogs' origin stories - and their integration into human communities.
Ancient dog jawbone that was found in the Kesserloch cave in Switzerland
Cantonal Archaeological Service of Schaffhausen/ Ivan Ivic via AP Photo
Scientists have long known that dogs descended from grey wolves during the last Ice Age, but the exact timeline of this transition - and how they initially looked - has remained a mystery.
Advancements in studying ancient canine DNA - where scientists isolate the dog-specific bits - is now helping to bring clarity.
The research also highlights that there has always been a unique human-dog bond, with chemical analysis of remains found in Türkiye suggesting that ancient dogs were eating fish - the same diet as nearby humans.
At Gough’s Cave, researchers found a dog jawbone that had been carefully processed after death. Cut marks show the animal was butchered, but the remains were treated in ways similar to human bodies at the site, where bones were also processed and arranged.
This overlap suggests dogs were not treated as ordinary animals, but held a closer, possibly symbolic or social role.
“They are humanity’s best friend, alongside our societies for the last 16,000 years and will continue to in the future,” said Lachie Scarsbrook, a study co-author from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share
Comments
Read more
Health news
Vatican says Catholics may receive animal organ transplants
Earth News
Evacuated pets arrive on Greek airlift from war-torn Middle East
Earth News
Positive environmental stories from 2026
Dogs
pet
archaeology
Animals
---
## Expert Analysis
### Merits
N/A
### Areas for Consideration
N/A
### Implications
- This overlap suggests dogs were not treated as ordinary animals, but held a closer, possibly symbolic or social role. “They are humanity’s best friend, alongside our societies for the last 16,000 years and will continue to in the future,” said Lachie Scarsbrook, a study co-author from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
- Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Read more Health news Vatican says Catholics may receive animal organ transplants Earth News Evacuated pets arrive on Greek airlift from war-torn Middle East Earth News Positive environmental stories from 2026 Dogs pet archaeology Animals
### Expert Commentary
This article covers dogs, ancient, remains topics. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 454.
By  Mohammad Shayan Ahmad  with  AP Published on 28/03/2026 - 9:27 GMT+1 Share Comments Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp Ancient DNA has revealed that domestic dogs lived alongside humans more than 15,000 years ago, reframing our understanding of their origins and societal significance. The studies, both published in the journal Nature , analysed ancient DNA from the remains of over 200 dogs and wolves. Ancient dog jawbone that was found in the Kesserloch cave in Switzerland Cantonal Archaeological Service of Schaffhausen/ Ivan Ivic via AP Photo Scientists have long known that dogs descended from grey wolves during the last Ice Age, but the exact timeline of this transition - and how they initially looked - has remained a mystery. The research also highlights that there has always been a unique human-dog bond, with chemical analysis of remains found in Türkiye suggesting that ancient dogs were eating fish - the same diet as nearby humans.
## Article Content
By 
Mohammad Shayan Ahmad
 with 
AP
Published on
28/03/2026 - 9:27 GMT+1
Share
Comments
Share
Send
Messenger
Telegram
VK
Bluesky
Threads
Ancient DNA has revealed that domestic dogs lived alongside humans more than 15,000 years ago, reframing our understanding of their origins and societal significance.
Dogs have been man's best friend for a very, very long time. Much longer, it turns out, than scientists had previously been able to prove.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Two new separate studies have uncovered the oldest known genetic evidence of domesticated dogs across Europe and Asia. These date back to between 15,800 and 14,000 years ago - roughly 5,000 years earlier than other genetic records suggested.
“This is the earliest clear genetic evidence we have for domestic dogs,” Pontus Skoglund, co-author of one of the studies and a geneticist at the Francis Crick Institute in London, UK, said.
The studies, both published in the journal
Nature
, analysed ancient DNA from the remains of over 200 dogs and wolves. They identified key remains from sites across Europe and Asia, including Pınarbaşı in central Türkiye and Gough’s Cave in southwest England.
Collectively, their findings reveal a clearer picture of dogs' origin stories - and their integration into human communities.
Ancient dog jawbone that was found in the Kesserloch cave in Switzerland
Cantonal Archaeological Service of Schaffhausen/ Ivan Ivic via AP Photo
Scientists have long known that dogs descended from grey wolves during the last Ice Age, but the exact timeline of this transition - and how they initially looked - has remained a mystery.
Advancements in studying ancient canine DNA - where scientists isolate the dog-specific bits - is now helping to bring clarity.
The research also highlights that there has always been a unique human-dog bond, with chemical analysis of remains found in Türkiye suggesting that ancient dogs were eating fish - the same diet as nearby humans.
At Gough’s Cave, researchers found a dog jawbone that had been carefully processed after death. Cut marks show the animal was butchered, but the remains were treated in ways similar to human bodies at the site, where bones were also processed and arranged.
This overlap suggests dogs were not treated as ordinary animals, but held a closer, possibly symbolic or social role.
“They are humanity’s best friend, alongside our societies for the last 16,000 years and will continue to in the future,” said Lachie Scarsbrook, a study co-author from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share
Comments
Read more
Health news
Vatican says Catholics may receive animal organ transplants
Earth News
Evacuated pets arrive on Greek airlift from war-torn Middle East
Earth News
Positive environmental stories from 2026
Dogs
pet
archaeology
Animals
---
## Expert Analysis
### Merits
N/A
### Areas for Consideration
N/A
### Implications
- This overlap suggests dogs were not treated as ordinary animals, but held a closer, possibly symbolic or social role. “They are humanity’s best friend, alongside our societies for the last 16,000 years and will continue to in the future,” said Lachie Scarsbrook, a study co-author from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
- Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Read more Health news Vatican says Catholics may receive animal organ transplants Earth News Evacuated pets arrive on Greek airlift from war-torn Middle East Earth News Positive environmental stories from 2026 Dogs pet archaeology Animals
### Expert Commentary
This article covers dogs, ancient, remains topics. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 454.
dogs
ancient
remains
dog
share
dna
scientists
studies
