Pınarbaşı

Pınarbaşı, located on a volcanic plateau in central Anatolia, Turkey, is an archaeological site gaining attention for its significance in understanding the early domestication of dogs. The site is newsworthy due to the discovery of the remains of a puppy dating back approximately 16,000 years. This discovery provides some of the earliest definitive genetic evidence of dogs and their close relationship with humans. Recent analysis suggests that the humans living at Pınarbaşı deliberately buried the puppies in the same area as their own dead and fed them fish, indicating a close bond. This finding is relevant because it pushes back the timeline of known human-dog co-existence and offers insights into the diets and burial practices of early Anatolian communities. The Pınarbaşı discovery contributes significantly to the ongoing research into the origins and evolution of dogs and their role in human history.