New DNA analysis of ancient bones unearthed at Cheddar Gorge’s renowned Gough’s Cave has revealed that dogs have been humans’ loyal companions for much longer than previously believed.
Among the finds at Gough’s Cave is Cheddar Man, a remarkably well-preserved complete human skeleton dating back 10,000 years. Buried alongside him, researchers discovered one of the earliest known domestic dogs in Britain.
Dogs are believed to have diverged from their wolf ancestors during the last Ice Age. In a recent study, scientists examined a 14,300-year-old jawbone found in Gough’s Cave and determined that genetically it is closer to domestic dogs than to wolves. This discovery extends the earliest genetic evidence for dog domestication by more than 5,000 years.
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The jawbone was originally uncovered during excavations of Cheddar’s caves between 1927 and 1931. It was later donated to the Natural History Museum in 1928 by the 5th Marquess of Bath, the then owner of the Longleat Estate, which includes Cheddar Gorge and its caves.
Published in the journal Nature, the research has been hailed as a major breakthrough. Ceawlin Thynn, 8th Marquess of Bath and descendant of the donor, said: “Ongoing research at Cheddar Gorge continues to deepen our understanding of ancient human history. The identification of this ancient dog jawbone as the earliest known domesticated canine in the UK is an exciting milestone.”
The study also compared this specimen with even older dog remains found in Pınarbaşı, Türkiye (dated at 15,800 years ago), and samples from several Central European sites. Lead researcher Dr William Marsh said, “DNA analysis of fossils from Gough’s Cave showed that one specimen was distinctly closer to dogs than wolves, marking it as the oldest definitive evidence of dog domestication caught on record.”
Fenia Vitali, General Manager at Cheddar Gorge & Caves, expressed enthusiasm about the findings: “It’s incredible to have both the oldest nearly complete human skeleton and one of the world’s earliest domesticated dogs discovered in the same location. We look forward to sharing these fascinating stories with visitors and continuing our partnership with the Natural History Museum as research progresses.”
This remarkable discovery not only rewrites the timeline for the domestication of dogs in Europe but also enriches our understanding of the complex relationship between humans and their earliest animal companions.