Distinguishing early domesticates from their wild progenitors poses a significant challenge for understanding human-mediated effects in the past. The origin of dogs is particularly contentious, as potential early dog remains often lack corroborating evidence to link them securely to human activity.
Researchers have identified two permafrost-preserved Late Pleistocene canids, known as Tumat Puppies, which were hypothesized to be littermates and early domesticates due to their physical association with butchered mammoth bones. To examine their familial relationship and determine if they linked to human activities through dietary information, the study utilized a combination of osteometry, stable isotope analysis, plant macrofossil analysis, genomic, and metagenomic analyses.
The multifaceted analysis revealed that the 14,965–14,046 cal yr BP Tumat Puppies were indeed littermates who inhabited a dry environment with diverse vegetation. Their diet was varied, including woolly rhinoceros in their final days. However, no evidence of mammoth consumption was found, which rules out a link between the canids and ancient humans.
Despite this finding, the discovery provides valuable insights into the evolution of dogs as a domesticated species and highlights the importance of preserving permafrost-preserved remains for future research.
Source: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/quaternary-research/article/abs/multifaceted-analysis-reveals-diet-and-kinship-of-late-pleistocene-tumat-puppies/B4DC077D8A6C18FD96F7E8E0D3428A46