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Scientists Discover 5,000-Year-Old Wolves That May Have Traveled by Boat with Humans
Yahoo News UK • • world
Key Points:
- Researchers discovered remains of two wolves dating back 3,000 to 5,000 years on Stora Karlsö, a remote Swedish island never connected to mainland Europe, suggesting human involvement in their arrival.
- Genetic analysis confirmed the animals were wolves, smaller than modern Scandinavian wolves, and their diet was rich in marine foods like seals and fish, indicating possible reliance on humans.
- The cave where the wolves were found was historically used by Neolithic and Bronze Age seal hunters and fishers, with previous findings of human remains and domestic dogs.
- One wolf showed low genetic diversity, hinting at a small or selectively bred population, reinforcing the idea that wolves may have traveled with or depended on humans.
- These findings provide new insights into the complex relationship between prehistoric humans and wolves, distinct from the domestication path of dogs.
