Anatolia

Anatolia, located in modern-day Turkey, is a region of historical and archaeological significance. Recent discoveries have brought it into the news. Firstly, genomic research on a skull fragment found in Pınarbaşı, central Anatolia, has identified it as belonging to a 15,800-year-old puppy, pushing back the earliest known evidence of dog domestication by 5,000 years. The puppy, likely only months old, was deliberately buried by humans who also consumed fish. Secondly, archaeologists have unearthed a rare fresco depicting Jesus as the "Good Shepherd" near Iznik, Anatolia. This fresco is considered a significant find from Anatolia's early Christian period. These discoveries highlight Anatolia's importance in understanding both the history of human-animal relationships and the development of early Christianity.