Ancient Fox Skeleton Found Buried with Humans in South America
In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeologists have unearthed the nearly complete skeleton of an extinct fox buried alongside human remains in northwestern Patagonia. This finding sheds light on the close relationship between early hunter-gatherer communities and native canids in South America.
The fox, identified as Dusicyon avus, lived in the region roughly 1,500 years ago and was closely related to the Falkland Islands wolf. Researchers, led by zooarchaeologist Ophélie Lebrasseur from the University of Oxford, conducted genetic analyses on the fox’s bones to confirm its identity and rule out hybridization with domestic dogs.
The presence of maize-like plant material in the fox’s diet, similar to that of the humans buried at the site, suggests a shared environment and possibly a symbiotic relationship between the two species. This discovery adds to the growing evidence of foxes and other canids being integral parts of ancient South American communities.
While the fox may have been tamed by early humans, researchers caution against viewing it as a pet. The intricate burial of the fox alongside human remains indicates a significant bond between the two species, highlighting the complex interactions between ancient humans and their animal companions.
