Ancient skull gives new clues on history of dogs

Research suggests multiple origins of domestic breeds

A profile of the Siberian dog skull shows the shortened snout and crowded teeth that helped scientists determine this ancient animal was domesticated. PHOTO COURTESY NIKOLAI D. OVODOV.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Archaelogists who found a well-preserved, 33,000-year-old dog skull in Siberia and compared with similarly aged skull found in Belgium have come closer to discovering how man domesticated his best friend.

The new evidence suggests that domestication of dogs may have occurred repeatedly in different geographic locations rather than with a single domestication event. Different breeds of dogs may have originated from more than one ancient ancestor, contrary to what some DNA evidence previously has indicated — inother words, chihuahuas may not have much in common with a rottweilers. (more…)

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