Humans Had Pet Dogs 5,000 Years Earlier Than We Thought
By Science Correspondent
Dogs may have been man’s best friend far earlier than scientists once believed, after a major breakthrough study pushed back their origins by more than 5,000 years.
Researchers, including experts from UCL, have uncovered genetic evidence showing dogs were living alongside humans around 15,800 years ago — during the Ice Age.
The discovery came after scientists analysed ancient DNA from animal remains found in the UK and Turkey, including at Gough’s Cave in Somerset.
What were once thought to be wolf bones have now been confirmed as some of the earliest known domestic dogs.
“The first clue that the Gough’s Cave bones, dating to around 15,000 years ago, belonged to dogs came from their unusually small size,” said co-author Simon Parfitt.
“DNA now confirms they were ancient domestic dogs, loyal companions to Ice Age hunters at the northern edge of the inhabited world.”
Experts say the findings reveal dogs were already living closely with humans, and may even have held symbolic importance. Some bones show signs of being deliberately shaped after death.
The study, published in Nature, also found early dogs were spread across Europe much earlier than thought — suggesting they were already part of human life in multiple communities.
Dr Selina Brace added: “Pushing the date of the earliest genetically identified dog back 5,000 years is a significant breakthrough.”
The research suggests these early dogs could have been used for hunting, guarding, or companionship — and may even have been buried alongside humans, highlighting a deep bond that stretches back to the Ice Age.
Link to full paper here https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10170-x
