Human beings began domesticating dogs about 14,000 years ago. However, it was not yet well established if they had done it intentionally or accidentally. New research studies have emerged revealing humans relied more on dogs ability in tracking and hunting more than previously studied.
A team of archeologists from the University College London and the University of Copenhagen studied animal bones that were dated 11,500 discovered in the old settlement of Shubayqa6, northeast Jordan. The observation suggested that humans and dogs hunted animals side by side.
A cluster of animal bones was digested by the digestive tract of another animal. It would have been too large for humans to swallow; the archeologists formulated the theory that these animal bones were swallowed by dogs. The study further proved that humans and dogs lived together all year round in the settlement.
Another remarkable discovery led to the correlation of the presence of domesticated dogs to the increase of captured hares as evidenced by the increase of bones in the site. Hare meat was a staple food for early humans. Their bones were used as beads.
The long history of dog use in hunting small and large prey was well documented. It would be unlikely not to put into consideration that dogs did not assist in hunting activities. This would explain the sudden increase of small prey remnants in archaeological studies.
The rise of small prey abundance could also be attributed to a progressive hunting method with the involvement of dogs. Previously, the early humans used the netting method of hunting that could capture unselective part of the hare population. With the aid of dogs, individual animals were targeted and thus proved to be a more selective method of hunting.
This recent archeological finding can solidify the relationship between dogs and humans through thousands of years.
Source: Science Daily
