In a groundbreaking discovery, a team of archaeologists, anthropologists, and evolutionary specialists from Argentina, the United Kingdom, and Germany have unearthed possible evidence of an ancient fox living alongside a human hunter-gatherer companion in what is now Argentina. This potential case of early animal domestication, as described in a paper published in Royal Society Open Science, could reshape our understanding of human-animal relationships in prehistoric times.
The remains of a fox, buried with a human, were found during excavations at the Cañada Seca site, located around 210 kilometers from Mendoza, Argentina. The site, which has been a focal point of research since its discovery in 1991, has already yielded the remains of 24 human individuals dating back approximately 1,500 years. What makes this discovery particularly significant is the presence of the fox, found alongside a human, which suggests the possibility of a bond between them that may indicate domestication.
A Closer Look at the Fox Remains
At first glance, the remains appeared to belong to a common species of fox from the Lycalopex genus, a group of canines native to South America. However, further analysis revealed that the fox was actually a member of an extinct species called Dusicyon avus. This species once inhabited the region but has long been considered extinct. The burial of this fox with a human suggests that the animal lived and possibly thrived in close association with early humans in the area.
The team’s research went beyond identifying the species of the fox; they also analyzed the remains for isotopic signatures, which provided insights into the fox’s diet. The results were telling—rather than the expected carnivorous diet typically associated with foxes, the animal’s nitrogen and carbon isotopes indicated it primarily consumed plant material, similar to the diet of the human buried next to it. This unusual dietary overlap raises intriguing questions. Foxes generally consume a meat-based diet, so the fact that this particular fox seemed to have adapted to a plant-based diet—consistent with that of its human companion—further suggests a close relationship between the two.
Evidence of Early Domestication
The research team posits that this evidence points to the possibility that the fox had been domesticated by the human hunter-gatherer and lived as a companion or pet. This would be the first substantial evidence of an ancient fox being domesticated in this way, as most studies on early domestication focus on dogs, which have long been considered the first domesticated animals. Dogs have been living alongside humans for thousands of years, and their domestication has been well-documented, but the domestication of other canines, such as foxes, is far rarer and has remained largely speculative until now.
The presence of this particular Dusicyon avus fox with its human companion challenges assumptions about domestication patterns in ancient societies. While the domestication of dogs was likely an ongoing process that began thousands of years ago, the domestication of foxes, particularly in South America, remains largely unexplored. The study adds a new layer to our understanding of the interactions between early humans and the animals they lived with, particularly in regions where the domestication of animals might have taken different forms than those we typically associate with European societies.
The Extinction of Dusicyon avus and the Arrival of European Influence
The findings also raise questions about the eventual extinction of Dusicyon avus. Researchers suggest that the extinction of this fox species may be linked to climate change and the arrival of Europeans in the region. As European settlers brought their own domesticated animals, including dogs, to South America, the introduction of these new species likely altered the ecological balance and contributed to the disappearance of local species like Dusicyon avus. The shifting climate and the introduction of European animals could have led to the decline of this once-abundant species, marking a dramatic shift in the ecosystem and the relationships humans had with the animals around them.
Notably, earlier studies have indicated that the arrival of European dogs in the Americas coincided with the extinction of Dusicyon avus, suggesting that human activities played a pivotal role in the species’ demise. This new evidence, however, challenges the timeline and provides a more nuanced perspective on the coexistence of humans and ancient species like Dusicyon avus.
A Broader Implication: The Nature of Early Human-Animal Relationships
This discovery is significant not only because it suggests the domestication of an ancient fox but also because it provides new insights into the complexity of early human-animal relationships. The idea that humans might have kept a variety of animals—not just dogs—as pets or companions is an exciting avenue for further research. If foxes like Dusicyon avus were domesticated in this region, it may suggest that early humans had a broader understanding of animal behavior and domestication processes than previously believed.
While the domestication of dogs has long been considered one of the most important milestones in human history, the possibility that other animals, such as foxes, were domesticated much earlier than anticipated broadens the scope of human interaction with animals. Understanding these relationships could have profound implications for how we view the development of social and ecological structures in prehistoric societies.
Conclusion: New Evidence Shaping Our Understanding of Ancient Practices
The discovery of a domesticated Dusicyon avus fox buried alongside a human at the Cañada Seca site offers a new lens through which we can view the ancient practice of animal domestication. The possibility that foxes were kept as pets or companions challenges traditional ideas about human-animal relationships in prehistoric times. As researchers continue to study these remains, this find may provide more answers about how ancient hunter-gatherer societies interacted with the animals around them, possibly reshaping our understanding of domestication as a practice that was far more varied and complex than once thought.
By shedding light on the domestication of this extinct species of fox, the team of researchers has opened up new avenues for understanding how early humans lived alongside animals in a way that goes beyond our traditional associations of domestication with dogs. The legacy of this discovery will likely influence both archaeological and anthropological studies for years to come, offering a more nuanced view of the relationships between humans and the natural world thousands of years ago.
More information: Cinthia C. Abbona et al, Patagonian partnerships: the extinct Dusicyon avus and its interaction with prehistoric human communities, Royal Society Open Science (2024). DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231835