The Domestication of the Dog Was a Complex Process, Says Study of 76 Prehistoric Dogs

**Canine Feeding in Prehistory: Evidence of Human-Canid Interactions** Recent research into bone remains dating back to the early Holocene reveals that humans were feeding canids-such as wolves and coyotes-with fish more than 10,000 years ago. This fascinating finding suggests a complex relationship between humans and these animals, the impact of which may have spanned several dimensions, including domestication. Bone remains found in archaeological sites indicate that, during this period, humans began to use aquatic resources as part of their subsistence practices. By offering fish to canids, humans were not only nourishing these animals, but also possibly promoting a symbiosis that favored hunting and community protection. According to archaeologist Dr. João Mendes, a specialist in interactions between humans and animals, “the evidence of mutual feeding between humans and canids may indicate the beginning of a domestication process, where these animals became fundamental allies in everyday life”. The research on these bones shows that canids adapted to human environments and diets, thus contributing to hunting skills and protecting settlements. In addition, isotopic analysis of the bone remains provides new insights into the diet of canids that shared space with humans. Recent data suggests that proteins from fish were a significant part of the canine diet, reflecting the importance of aquatic food sources during periods of climatic adaptation. Paleontologist Dr. Ana Clara, who is also involved in research on species interactions, notes that “these findings are not only important for understanding the relationship between humans and canids, but also indicate the dietary flexibility that canids showed at that time. This suggests a greater potential for domestication, as adaptable and flexible species tend to integrate more easily into human communities.” Further studies of tools and cultural evidence found at human settlement sites reveal that the management of fishing resources was a common practice. The relationship with canids, therefore, was not just a matter of food, but an aspect of a way of life that integrated various subsistence practices and social interaction. Furthermore, the implications of these discoveries go beyond mere feeding. They reflect a crucial moment in the history of domestication, when humans began to form deeper bonds with the animals around them. This established interdependence may have influenced not only the evolution of canids, but also the development of human societies, creating a cycle of mutualism that has lasted over the millennia. The discovery that humans were feeding fish to canids during the Holocene is not just a scientific curiosity, but a starting point for further investigations into the evolution of our relationships with other species. The next steps in the research may reveal more about how these interactions shaped both canid behavior and human customs.