Dogs First Domesticated 33,000 Years Ago

Analyses of two skulls show they belonged to the earliest known specimens of domesticated animals.

The remains of dogs found in Siberia and Belgium suggest that dogs were first domesticated 33,000 years ago, predating previous conclusions by 3,000 years. Skulls found in both regions bore distinct traits of domesticated dogs – shorter snouts and wider jaws. Shorter snouts are believed to have arisen after dogs stopped relying solely on their sense of smell for food, while wider jaws lead to more crowding of the teeth, a condition linked to domestication. Researchers at the University of Arizona analyzed the skulls, and determined that they were at least 33,000 years old, making them the earliest instances of domesticated animals on the planet. The theory behind why dogs became domesticated is fascinating in and of itself, and these new findings suggest that canines have been man's best friend since around the time that (perhaps not coincidentally) Neanderthals died off.