New evidence suggests that the domestication of dogs may have occurred in the southwest region of Germany, specifically in Baden-Württemberg. Fossils found in the Gnirshöhle cave indicate that dogs were living with humans in the area between 16,000 and 14,000 years ago. While it is widely accepted that dogs were domesticated thousands of years ago, the exact location and timeline of their domestication has been a topic of debate among scientists.
According to a publication in the scientific journal Scientific Reports, researchers from the University of Tübingen analyzed the genetic and anatomical details of the fossils found in the cave. The anatomical features of the fossils suggest that the dogs were still very similar to wolves at the time of their domestication. Isotope analysis also revealed that the dogs were primarily eating small mammals, indicating that they were being fed by humans rather than hunting for their own food.
This new evidence challenges previous theories that the domestication of dogs occurred in the Near or Far East. While it is still unclear exactly how and when dogs were domesticated, this discovery sheds new light on the history of the human-dog relationship and the role that early humans played in the evolution of dogs. As more research is conducted, we may gain a better understanding of the origins of our beloved canine companions.
Chris Baumann
