Dogs (Canis familiaris) were the first domesticated animals. By the time other species were being domesticated during the Neolithic, dogs were completely integrated into human societies. Through this long-term relationship, the place of dogs in our communities has been changing. These many uses of dogs and their importance in human life can be perceived in the different contexts their remains have been found in archaeological sites. The wide range of canine uses could have led to early characterizations and differentiations of breeds, as evidenced by the osteoarchaeological record and historical descriptions.
In this project, we will evaluate the distribution of dogs through space and time, their changing place in human societies and their co-occurrence with other animal species, by combining archaeological information with genomic data of ancient and modern dogs from Andalusia and Central America.