What's happened
New research analyzing 643 skulls shows that dog diversity in shape and size began at least 11,000 years ago, well before modern breeding practices. The findings challenge the idea that recent selective breeding created most of today's dog variation, revealing a complex history of domestication dating back to the end of the last Ice Age.
What's behind the headline?
The findings fundamentally reshape our understanding of dog domestication. The evidence that diverse skull shapes existed over 11,000 years ago indicates that early domesticated dogs already exhibited a broad range of physical forms, long before Victorian breeders began shaping breeds. This suggests that natural selection and early human interactions played a significant role in shaping canine diversity. The fact that some ancient skulls resembled modern wolves underscores the gradual divergence from wild ancestors. The research also highlights the limitations of relying solely on skull morphology, as soft tissue and behavior are not captured in bones. Overall, this study emphasizes that the roots of dog diversity are deep and complex, driven by both natural evolution and early human influence, rather than recent selective breeding alone.
What the papers say
The articles from Ars Technica, The Japan Times, and The Independent collectively emphasize that dog diversity predates modern breeding. Ars Technica highlights that early dogs lacked extreme features seen today, while The Japan Times notes that canine variation began at least 11,000 years ago, contradicting the idea that recent practices created most breeds. The Independent underscores that this diversity started over 10,000 years ago, with some skulls still wolf-like, illustrating a gradual evolutionary process. While all sources agree on the ancient origins of diversity, Ars Technica provides detailed skull analysis, and The Independent offers historical context with archaeological findings, creating a comprehensive picture of early dog evolution.
How we got here
Studies of dog and wolf skulls over the past 50,000 years indicate that domesticated dogs originated around 11,000 years ago, shortly after the last Ice Age. Early dogs showed significant variation in skull shape and size, suggesting that diversity in canine forms predates modern breed development. This research contradicts the notion that recent breeding practices are solely responsible for the wide variety of dog breeds today, highlighting a long history of natural and early human-driven selection.
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