Deciphering Dog Domestication: A Combined Ancient DNA and Geometric Morphometric Approach

Summary

Research into animal domestication has now broadly established the geographic and temporal origins of the major livestock species, but has failed to do so for dogs. We will apply ancient DNA (aDNA) and geometric morphometric (GM) techniques to archaeological canid remains, of which we have examined ~4000 specimens across the globe through multiple time periods. Using this multifaceted approach, we expect population level distinctions revealed by aDNA analyses to be mirrored by GM analyses. This allows results of one technique to be used as a proxy for the other if both datasets cannot be retrieved from the same specimen. We hope to identify multiple morphological groups from Pleistocene wolves that may represent either natural ecomorphs or early domestication phases. By examining the genetic signature associated with these groups we hope to identify which group(s) contributed to dogs. Further, by identifying genetic signatures associated with these groups we will identify likely locations for early domestication events. These results will be tested through time by assessing the degree of admixture within each geographical population revealed by the aDNA data. Our results should help reveal the earliest locations of dog domestication and the complexity of modern dog morphological and genetic variability.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• New Methods in Zooarchaeology

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