Ancient Alaskan Sites Reveal Early Human-Canine Relationships

New evidence shows humans fed fish to canines 12,000 years ago, suggesting complex interactions predating known domestication in the Americas.

Archaeologists uncovered 12,000-year-old canine remains in Alaska, indicating early human-canine relationships in the Americas.
Chemical analysis revealed that the canines, likely tamed wolves or early dogs, consumed salmon provided by humans, a diet unusual for wild canids of the time.
The findings suggest complex interactions, including commensality and possible domestication, between humans and canines during the late Ice Age.
The remains, found at Swan Point and Hollembaek Hill, are among the earliest evidence of human-canine bonds in the Americas, predating previous records by 2,000 years.
Researchers collaborated with Indigenous communities in Alaska, emphasizing respect for local heritage and cultural insights into human-animal relationships.