Family's furry friend was a tamed fox

A new discovery is challenging traditional notions of ancient human-animal relationships. Researchers unearthed a 1500-year-old burial site in northwestern Argentina, revealing a profound bond between a hunter-gatherer and an unexpected companion: a large, now-extinct, fox species known as Dusicyon avus. At first, the burial at Cañada Seca in northern Patagonia puzzled archaeologists. The skeleton of D. avus was near-complete and it laid beside a human without any signs of consumption. Through advanced analysis of ancient DNA and radiocarbon dating, scientists confirmed the fox's species and age. It was a medium-sized canid with an estimated body mass of 10 to 15 kg. Curiously, it was found outside of its known geographical distribution. The findings contribute to a growing body of evidence suggesting that individual foxes were tamed by humans in various…

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Ancient History (Digital) - 1 Issue, AH 50

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