For 20 years, archaeologists searched the interior limestone caves at Haida Gwaii. They discovered the remains of an ancient domestic dog.
Hakai Institute’s team discovered a tooth with a history of 13,100 year. This was confirmed by DNA dating and radiocarbon dating to prove that it is a canine derived from a domestic pet.
The oldest evidence of domestication in America was found in Illinois, with 10,190- to 9,630-year old domestic dogs.
An analysis of DNA revealed the dog’s relationship to the grey Wolf, now found in North American Wolves.
Hakai Institute led the team that discovered a tooth dating back to 13,100 years. They confirmed it was a dog from domestic dogs using radiocarbon dating and DNA analysis.
Canadian caves were also home to ancient artifacts of humans, such as stone tools and spearpoints. This suggests that people lived in this area for 200 years before previously thought and used it likely for hunting.
Quaternary Sciences Reviews published this study. It focuses on three karst caves located in Haida Gwaii’s southern region: K1, Gaadu Din 1. and Gaadu Din 2.
In 2000-2003, the team examined K1 and found over 1,000 fossils of ancient animals. This included brown bears who lived 17200 years ago.
Gaadu Din 1 (the second cave) is located on the east end of the island. This cave was discovered between 2003 and 2007.
Canadian caves held ancient human artifacts including spearpoints and stone tools. It is possible that these people used this area for hunting 200 years before we thought.
K1 was investigated by the team from 2000 to 2003. They found over 1000 remains of animals including brown bears, which lived 17.200 years ago.
They found bone from canids and salmon, bears, deer, canids, fish, and many other animals that are between 13,400- 11,200 years of age. The canine tooth was 13,100 years old.
According to DNA testing, the dog is related to the gray wolf that was originally from east Asia at the time.
The researchers say the dog likely crossed over the Bering Strait bridge with ancient humans, but it then bred with other wolves when it came to what is now Canada – the analysis shows a connection between the ancient dog and today’s North American wolves.
Gaadu DIN 1 contained an almost complete bear skull, suggesting that the bears of the past were killed and taken to the cave before they could eat it.
They found bone from canids and salmon, bears, canids, fish, and other animals between 13,400- 11,200 years of age, as well as a canine tooth that was 13,100 years old.
Gaadu Din 1 is the second cave and it was discovered from 2003 to 2007. Together with the 13100 year-old canine tooth and bones of bears, canids, and canids that were found by the team, they discovered bone fragments from canids, salmon, and canids.
“The Haida Gwaii data from the karst caves show that humans hunted bear in this region at least 12,600 Years ago. The study suggests that the tradition could have been extended back a millennium if the 13-year-old Gaadu DIN 1 dog, who was part of a hunting group, reads the report.
“It seems plausible that these maritime-oriented persons arrived on Haida Gwaii by the same route that they used to travel. [ancient]Brown bears crossed the Alaskan coast to reach Southeast Alaska and Haida Gwaii.
Gaadu din 2 was also the final cave to be explored.
Gaadu DIN 1 contained an almost complete skull of the bear. This suggests that the bears from the past were killed and taken to the cave in order to be treated before they were eaten.
Gaadu din 2 was also explored. However, this cave only contained fossilized remains from 150 animals including rodents, bears, and rockfish.
However, this cave only contained fossilized remains from 150 animals (including rodents, bears, and rockfish).
Quentin Mackie an archaeologist from the University of Victoria, told Hakai Magazine that he had never expected to find artifacts within those caves.
« All three [the caves]There are many similar caves along the coast, according to archaeological evidence.