Origins of Canine Companionship (ca. 12,000 BC – onward)

By: The Scribe on April, 2007

Dog burial in Indiana If there is any doubt as to the accuracy of the old adage “man’s best friend”, one simply need consider the fact that ancient dog burials have been documented on every major landmass in the world, with the exception of Antarctica.

In fact, the earliest documented case of domestication occurs in a grave from Germany, dating to around 12,000 BC – and not only did the grave contain a dog, but also two human skeletons, suggesting that even at this early date, domesticated dogs had become an integral part of everyday human life and companionship.

The earliest evidence for domesticated dogs in North America dates to about 8,000 BC. In Illinois, four dog burials were excavated at the Koster site: each dog was lain on its side in a shallow grave, and the graves themselves were located in an area of the village where residents buried the remains of adults and children.

The Bluegrass site in Warrick County, Indiana, contained quite a number of dog burials from the Middle Archaic period (ca. 6,000-3,500 BC). These dogs were small and light, similar in build to a mid-range terrier.

Although there are innumerable examples of dog burials from across the globe, it is interesting to note that most dogs are buried near or with human remains, and the majority of the time seem to have been buried with great care – placed carefully on their side or in a curling position, as if they were simply asleep, a testimony to the close companionship shared between man and dog during life.

Want to read more?