Nature 276, 608 - 610 (07 December 1978); doi:10.1038/276608a0

Evidence for domestication of the dog 12,000 years ago in the Natufian of Israel

SIMON J. M. DAVIS^* & FRANÇOIS R. VALLA^†

^*Department of Zoology, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
^†Centre de Recherches Préhistoriques, Français de Jérusalem, Israel

THREE canid finds from the Natufian in the northern Israeli sites of Bin Mallaha (Eynan) and Hayonim terrace indicate a special man−animal relationship. These consist of a diminutive carnassial and mandible, and a wolf or dog puppy skeleton buried with a human. The finding of a puppy skeleton in such close association with man is of particular significance as an indication of a close relationship between man and dog.

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