A small fragment of bone, tucked away in a museum drawer for decades, has quietly shifted what is known about the long relationship between humans and dogs. What once looked unremarkable now appears to belong to one of the earliest domesticated dogs ever identified. The discovery suggests that dogs were already living closely alongside people around 15,000 years ago, far earlier than many previous estimates.As reported by the BBC, researchers, including science correspondent Pallab Ghosh, reporting on the findings, say the evidence paints a picture of companionship that began deep in the Ice Age, not long after humans themselves were still adapting to harsh environments.
Genetic evidence shows early dogs lived with humans in Britain
The breakthrough centres on a 9cm jawbone found in Gough’s Cave in Somerset. It had been sitting in storage since excavations carried out in the 1920s. For years, it was assumed to be just another ancient specimen. A PhD researcher, William Marsh, carried out genetic testing through the Natural History Museum and confirmed it was indeed a dog, not a transitional wolf or an ambiguous case. That finding alone pushes the presence of domesticated dogs in Britain back to roughly 15,000 years ago.The genetic evidence suggests that these early dogs were already living in proximity to humans. Experts say these animals likely descended from grey wolves that lingered around human camps at the end of the Ice Age. Humans may have noticed the usefulness of these animals. Guarding, tracking, and hunting assistance. Gradually, selection favoured friendlier traits. A researcher involved in the study, Lachie Scarsbrook from the University of Oxford and LMU Munich, reportedly described the find as a key that unlocked other ancient samples that had previously sat in a grey area between wolves and dogs.
Genetic comparison shows early dogs shared diets and spread across Europe
Once the Somerset jawbone was genetically identified, scientists compared its DNA with other ancient remains across Europe and parts of central Anatolia. Many of those specimens, once uncertain, now appear to belong to early dogs as well.Further analysis led by Selina Brace from the Natural History Museum showed something even more interesting. These dogs not only shared genetic similarities but also similar diets to the humans they lived alongside. The dietary evidence adds a subtle but important layer. If dogs and humans were eating similar food, it might suggest cooperation in hunting or shared consumption of resources.
Deeper ancestry and ancient connections
Separate research led by Anders Bergström from the University of East Anglia and the Francis Crick Institute examined DNA from more than 200 ancient dog and wolf remains. The results indicate that early dogs across Europe share ancestry with populations that spread widely across northern regions.Rather than a single isolated origin in Europe, the data suggests interconnected populations that moved with human groups across vast distances.
The bond that still exists today
Archaeological finds, including burials where humans and dogs were placed together, reinforce the idea of a deep emotional or practical connection. One example from southern Sweden, often cited by researchers, shows a dog buried alongside its owner thousands of years ago. Modern dog lovers might recognise the feeling.Ciara Farrell of the Royal Kennel Club has spoken about that sense of connection, describing how dogs often seem to respond to human emotion in ways that feel almost intuitive.
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