What does archaeological DNA evidence suggest about dog domestication?

The story behind the answer

Archaeological and ancient DNA show dogs diverged from gray wolves thousands of years ago—well before agriculture or modern breeding. Genomes from ancient dog remains (over 14,000 years old) cluster with extinct wolf lineages, not foxes, and reveal repeated gene flow with wolves. This rules out recent origins and confirms wolves—not foxes—were the source population.

Context: Early dogs likely emerged alongside hunter‑gatherers, with wolves that were less fearful scavenging near human camps. Over time, selection for tameness, cooperation, and traits like starch digestion shaped dogs. Modern breeds are recent overlays on this deep history. Memory tip: picture wolves edging closer to Paleolithic campfires—over millennia, “campfire wolves” became dogs.