The domestic dog that lived ∼17, 000 years ago in the Lower Magdalenian of Erralla site (Basque Country): A radiometric and genetic analysis. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hervella, Montserrat; San-Juan-Nó, Asier; Aldasoro-Zabala, Aloña; Mariezkurrena, Koro; Altuna, Jesús; de-la-Rua, Concepción
• Is Part Of: Journal of archaeological science. Volume 46(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Domestication -- Wolf -- Dog -- Chronology -- Lower Magdalenian -- Ancient DNA -- Basque Country; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Research -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103706
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-409X

Abstract

Highlights: Genetic identification of a Canis lupus familiaris from Erralla site (Basque Country). In the Lower Magdalenian there was a dog in the Cantabrian region. The domestic dog of Erralla site lived ∼17, 000 years ago. Dating revision of Eurasian sites providing Palaeolithic and Mesolithic dog remains. Abstract: Dogs are known to be the first species domesticated by humans, although the geographic and temporal origin of this process is still under debate in different fields of knowledge. In the present study, we examined a humerus from a canid recovered in the Lower Magdalenian level of the site of Erralla (Zestoa, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain), combining morphology, radiocarbon dating and genetics. Our results confirm the identification of this specimen as Canis lupus familiaris, discarding miss-identification with a dhole ( Cuon alpinus ) through genetic analyses of cytochrome b gene and mtDNA haplogroup. The direct AMS 14 C dating (17, 410–17, 096 cal. BP) indicated that the Erralla specimen represents one of the earliest domesticated dogs in Europe, in the Lower Cantabrian Magdalenian period. We discuss our results in the light of the debate of the origin of dogs, conducting a critical review of the datings of sites of Eurasia that have provided remains of Paleolithic and Mesolithic dogs, including the so-called "dog-like wolves".