News Archaeology

Dogs lived and died with humans 10,000 years ago in the Americas

Buried remains of the oldest known New World canines came from two sites in Illinois

ancient dogs

ANCIENT PAWS  New radiocarbon evidence has identified three dogs excavated in Illinois, including this pooch, as the oldest canines in the Americas. These human companions lived around 10,000 years ago, about 1,500 years earlier than previously thought.

Del Baston, Center for American Archaeology

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

WASHINGTON — A trio of dogs buried at two ancient human sites in Illinois lived around 10,000 years ago, making them the oldest known domesticated canines in the Americas.