Palaeolithic dogs and Pleistocene wolves revisited: a reply to Morey (2014). (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Germonpré, Mietje; Sablin, Mikhail V.; Lázničková-Galetová, Martina; Després, Viviane; Stevens, Rhiannon E.; Stiller, Mathias; Hofreiter, Michael
• Is Part Of: Journal of archaeological science. Volume 54(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 210
• Page End: 216
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Canid morphotype -- Dog -- Domestication -- Palaeolithic -- Pleistocene -- Wolf; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archéologie -- Périodiques; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2014.11.035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-4403

Abstract

Abstract: This is a reply to the comments of Morey (2014) on our identification of Palaeolithic dogs from several European Palaeolithic sites. In his comments Morey (2014) presents some misrepresentations and misunderstandings that we remedy here. In contrast to what Morey (2014) propounds, our results suggest that the domestication of the wolf was a long process that started early in the Upper Palaeolithic and that since that time two sympatric canid morphotypes can be seen in Eurasian sites: Pleistocene wolves and Palaeolithic dogs. Contrary to Morey (2014), we are convinced that the study of this domestication process should be multidisciplinary. Highlights: This is a response to the comments of Morey (2014) on our identification of Palaeolithic dogs. Palaeolithic dogs differ in several dimensions from northern Eurasian wolves. The domestication of the wolf began much earlier than accepted by convention.