Doggo

Where Did Our Modern Dog Begin? Fossil Evidence.

By MissHampton
  • Zhoukoudian Wolf or Canis Variabilis
    130,000 BCE

    Zhoukoudian Wolf or Canis Variabilis

    Small skulls of the Canis Variabilis were found in close proximity to Peking Man in Beijing (relationship unknown).
  • Paleolithic Dog or Goyete Dog
    36,500 BCE

    Paleolithic Dog or Goyete Dog

    The Goyete Cavies in Belgium yielded one of the 1st fossil skulls of a proposed paleolithic dog. Mitochondria DNA does not match any present dog or wolf species.
  • Grey Wolf Emerges in America
    24,000 BCE

    Grey Wolf Emerges in America

    The Grey Wolf emerges in America from Eurasia between 70,000 and 24,000 years ago alongside the Dire wolf that went extinct. The Grey Wolf is not attributed to its extinction.
  • "The Black Dog of Tumat"
    17,200 BCE

    "The Black Dog of Tumat"

    Often referred to as the world's first mummified dog, the "Black Dog of Tumat" was discovered in Yakutia, Siberia. DNA evidence confirmed it as an early dog.
  • Canis Lupus Familiaris
    14,200 BCE

    Canis Lupus Familiaris

    In Oberkassel Germany remains of the mandible (jawbone) of a modern dog's ancestor were discovered. First believed to be a paleolithic dog, but later tested and found to be that of a domestic dog.
  • Split Between East and West Eurasian Wolf Groups
    10,000 BCE

    Split Between East and West Eurasian Wolf Groups

    The split between the wolf species in East and West Eurasia is believed to be responsible for the two modern-day populations (debatable).
  • Koster Dog (Illinois!)
    9900 BCE

    Koster Dog (Illinois!)

    The earliest dog remains found in America were found in Greene County Illinois in what is believed to be a dog burial site. DNA studies have linked it closely with Siberia dogs from Zhokhov Island.