Dog Domestication: A Tale of Alaskan Canids and Human Companionship
Early humans and their ever-evolving relationship with wolves, dogs, and wild hybrids in prehistoric Alaska
The Origins of Man’s Best Friend
Modern dogs, the companions we cherish today, are the descendants of wolves domesticated in Siberia around 23,000 years ago. However, the journey to this unique bond between humans and canines was far from straightforward. A new study1 suggests that in prehistoric Alaska, humans repeatedly domesticated and lived alongside not just dogs but also wolves, wolf-dog hybrids, and even coyotes. The results reveal an intricate and experimental relationship that spanned thousands of years.
The Study of Ancient Alaskan Canids
To explore this complex history, a team of archaeologists led by François Lanoë from the University of Arizona analyzed 111 sets of bones from canids unearthed at archaeological sites across interior Alaska. These remains, dating from as far back as 14,000 years ago to the modern day, included wolves, dogs, and even coyotes.
By comparing the DNA of these ancient canids to that of modern dogs, wolves, and older Siberian wolf populations, the researchers uncovered genetic relationships. Additionally, they measured nitrogen isotopes in the bones and teeth to determine whether these animals consumed a diet rich in fish—an indicator of human provisioning.
“The terminal Pleistocene in interior Alaska may have been a time of experimentation in terms of human-canid relationships,” wrote Lanoë and his colleagues.
Wolves, Fish, and the Birth of Domestication
Before 13,600 years ago, Alaskan wolves subsisted exclusively on wild game, such as rabbits and moose. However, isotope analysis revealed a dramatic dietary shift around this time. Some wolves began to consume large quantities of fish—a behavior that strongly suggests human involvement, as wolves do not naturally fish.
This period marked the emergence of human-canid interactions in Alaska. People likely allowed wolves to scavenge from their fishing activities or directly fed them, leading to closer associations and mutual benefits.
A Mixed Pack at Hollembaek Hill
The clearest evidence of human experimentation with canids comes from Hollembaek Hill, an 8,100-year-old site where archaeologists uncovered the remains of four canines. While their diets, rich in salmon, suggested domestication, their DNA painted a different picture. These animals were genetically closest to modern wolves, not dogs.
The Hollembaek Hill canids varied in physical appearance—some were the size of modern wolves, while others were smaller, resembling early domesticated dogs. Genetic evidence indicated a blend of wolves and wolf-dog hybrids, suggesting a population of animals that blurred the line between wild and domesticated.
“People may have domesticated canids that left no trace in later dog lineages. Alternatively, some wild canids may have been kept as pets and others hunted,” the researchers noted.
The Many Attempts to Invent Dogs
Despite the presence of domesticated-like behavior, the dogs of Hollembaek Hill and other Alaskan sites had no direct connection to the lineage of modern dogs. Instead, their DNA suggests that multiple independent domestication events occurred throughout history.
Modern dogs descend from a single group of wolves in Siberia, yet humans in different regions and times likely repeated the domestication process. Friendly and less aggressive wild canids would have been tolerated near human settlements, fed, and eventually adopted, leading to new domesticated lineages. However, most of these early attempts did not endure into modern dog lineages.
A Continuing Legacy of Canine Experimentation
The study sheds light on humanity’s enduring fascination with canids, highlighting a history of repeated domestication efforts. Whether through shared resources, companionship, or experimentation, the early relationships between humans and canids reveal a dynamic interplay of culture, survival, and adaptability.
Understanding these ancient relationships not only deepens knowledge of dog domestication but also underscores the complexity of human-animal connections over millennia.
Related Research Studies
These articles provide a comprehensive overview of the interplay between humans and canids in Pleistocene contexts and contribute to understanding domestication processes.
The Origins of Dog Domestication: Early Humans and Canids
Authors: Germonpré, M., Sablin, M. V., Stevens, R. E., Hedges, R. E., Hofreiter, M., Stiller, M., & Després, V. R.
Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2009.
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0909344106
Summary: Examines the archaeological and isotopic evidence for the domestication of dogs from wolves, focusing on early human-canid interactions.
Mothering the Orphaned Pup: The Beginning of a Domestication Process in the Upper Palaeolithic
Authors: Germonpré, M., Van den Broeck, M., et al.
Journal: Human Ecology, 2021.
DOI: 10.1007/s10745-021-00234-z
Link: ResearchGate PDF
Summary: Discusses early human intervention in orphaned pups, suggesting this behavior was foundational to the domestication process.
Hounds Follow Those Who Feed Them: What the Ethnographic Record Reveals About Early Human-Canid Partnerships
Authors: Lupo, K. D.
Journal: Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 2019.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaa.2019.101081
Link: Academia PDF
Summary: Explores ethnographic evidence for mutualistic relationships between hunter-gatherers and canids, drawing parallels to Late Pleistocene contexts.
A New Look at an Old Friend: Geometric Morphometric Approaches to Investigating Human-Canid Relationships
Author: Ameen, C.
Thesis: University of Calgary, 2018.
Link: ResearchGate PDF
Summary: Uses morphometric analysis to examine the diversity in human-canid relationships in the Americas, including Late Pleistocene evidence.
Domestication and Early Human-Canid Interaction in Arctic and Subarctic Regions
Authors: Perri, A. R., & Smith, B.
Journal: Arctic Anthropology, 2020.
DOI: 10.3368/aa.57.1.45
Summary: Reviews archaeological evidence of domestication processes, emphasizing Arctic and Subarctic environments.
A Genomic Perspective on Early Canid Domestication
Authors: Skoglund, P., Ersmark, E., Palkopoulou, E., & Dalen, L.
Journal: Current Biology, 2015.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.10.008
Summary: Investigates the genetic divergence between wolves and early dogs, providing insights into the domestication timeline.
Social Canids and Early Human Societies: Behavioral Insights from Ethology and Archaeology
Authors: Shipman, P.
Journal: Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2019.
DOI: 10.1038/s41559-019-0903-3
Summary: Analyzes the cooperative behaviors of canids and their role in fostering human-animal partnerships during the Pleistocene.
The Role of Human Selection in Canid Domestication
Authors: Larson, G., & Fuller, D. Q.
Journal: Science, 2014.
DOI: 10.1126/science.1256236
Summary: Explores the evolutionary pressures exerted by humans on early canids, shaping their domestication trajectory.
The Evolution of Early Domesticated Dogs: Evidence from the Late Pleistocene
Authors: Thalmann, O., et al.
Journal: Science, 2013.
DOI: 10.1126/science.1243650
Summary: Combines genetic and archaeological data to trace the origins of domesticated dogs in relation to human activity.
Late Pleistocene Wolves of Alaska: A Case Study of Early Human-Wolf Interactions
Authors: Lanoë, F., et al.
Journal: Science Advances, 2024.
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ads1335
Link: Science Advances Full Text
Summary: Examines isotopic and morphological evidence of mutualistic relationships between humans and wolves in Subarctic Alaska.
François Lanoë et al.,Late Pleistocene onset of mutualistic human/canid (Canis spp.) relationships in subarctic Alaska.Sci. Adv.10,eads1335(2024).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.ads1335