Dogs were widely distributed across western Eurasia during the Palaeolithic

Key findings from this study

• The study found that genetically homogeneous dog populations were distributed across Europe and Anatolia by the Late Upper Palaeolithic, at least 14,300 years ago.
• The researchers demonstrate that dogs were exchanged among Magdalenian, Epigravettian, and Anatolian hunter-gatherer populations, indicating inter-group contact and trade networks.
• The authors report that eastern Eurasian dog ancestry entered European populations during the Mesolithic, concomitant with human population movements from eastern regions.

Overview

Nuclear and mitochondrial genomes from canid remains spanning 15,800 to 7,900 years ago demonstrate that genetically homogeneous dog populations were distributed widely across Europe and Anatolia by the Late Upper Palaeolithic. Genomic analysis of specimens from Türkiye, the UK, and Serbia establishes that dogs were exchanged among genetically and culturally distinct human populations during this period. Subsequent Mesolithic populations introduced eastern Eurasian dog ancestry into Europe through migration events.

Methods and approach

The researchers generated nuclear and mitochondrial genomes from canid remains at four archaeological sites: Pınarbaşı in Türkiye (15,800 years ago), Gough's Cave in the UK (14,300 years ago), Padina in Serbia (11,500-7,900 years ago), and Vlasac in Serbia (8,900 years ago). Genomic data enabled assessment of genetic homogeneity across geographic regions and temporal intervals. Ancestry analysis characterized the genetic composition of dog populations and tracked shifts in ancestry patterns between temporal periods.

Results

Dogs sampled from Türkiye, the UK, and Serbia possessed homogeneous genetic profiles by at least 14,300 years ago. This genetic consistency across geographically distant Late Upper Palaeolithic sites indicates substantial contact and animal exchange among Magdalenian, Epigravettian, and Anatolian hunter-gatherer populations. Eastern Eurasian dog ancestry increased substantially during the Mesolithic, coinciding with the northwestward movement of eastern hunter-gatherer populations. The influx of eastern ancestry fundamentally shaped the ancestral composition of subsequent European dog populations.

Implications

The genetic homogeneity of Late Upper Palaeolithic dogs across western Eurasia indicates that dog domestication and early selective breeding occurred within networks connecting distinct human societies. These findings demonstrate that dogs functioned as commodities or valued animals exchanged between cultural groups, suggesting dogs held significant cultural or practical importance during the Late Palaeolithic. The archaeological and genetic evidence together indicate that human social networks facilitated the rapid dispersal of domesticated dogs across Europe and Anatolia well before the Mesolithic period.

Scope and limitations

This summary is based on the study abstract and available metadata. It does not include a full analysis of the complete paper, supplementary materials, or underlying datasets unless explicitly stated. Findings should be interpreted in the context of the original publication.