Sheep have played a pivotal role in human society’s development over millennia. Researchers analyzed 118 sheep bones from around 12,000 years ago, confirming that domestication began in south-east Anatolia. The study found that sheep were initially raised for their versatility and became indispensable to humans.
Genetic analysis of the bones revealed that mouflons, native to the Western Taurus region, were the primary source of domesticated sheep. Excavations at Asıklı Höyük in central Turkey uncovered remnants from various centuries, providing valuable insights into the early stages of sheep domestication.
Shepherds first bred animals with different fleece colors around 11,000 years ago, a practice that allowed them to identify individual herds and show pride in their possessions. This marks the earliest recorded instance of human intervention in livestock biology.
The migration of sheep to Europe around 7,000 years ago had a profound impact on both humans and animal genetics. The introduction of sheep from Anatolia and the Eurasian steppe changed the local gene pool, influencing the evolution of European sheep populations.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/sheep-people-millennia-old-connection-191420603.html