Current location:Stellar Scope news portal > politics
Early man's best friend was the fox as the animal was domesticated by humans, research suggests
Stellar Scope news portal2024-04-30 15:20:53【politics】5People have gathered around
IntroductionNotorious for raiding bins and preying on pets, foxes are widely considered a nuisance.But they used
Notorious for raiding bins and preying on pets, foxes are widely considered a nuisance.
But they used to be man's best friend, according to a study. Researchers analysed remains found at an ancient burial site in Patagonia, Argentina dating back to 450AD.
While it contained the skeletons of 18 adults and six children, there was also evidence that an ancient fox species was buried alongside the humans.
Analysis revealed foxes were buried in the same graves, and had shared a similar diet to humans, indicating a close relationship.
The species of fox discovered - Dusicyon avus - was roughly the size of a German shepherd but is now extinct.
Notorious for raiding bins and preying on pets, foxes are widely considered a nuisance (Stock image)
But, according to a study, they once used to be man's best friend (Stock image)
The researchers, which included scientists from the University of Oxford, suggest the fox was potentially a companion pet for hunter-gatherers.
READ MORE: The dog breeds that really ARE man's best friend - so is YOURS on the list?
AdvertisementHowever, they believe the introduction of the modern dog led to their decline as companion animals.
The study, published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, reads: 'The co-burial of humans and foxes is a rare archaeological record worldwide, and suggests a cultural or symbolic significance.
'Although the reasons for its inclusion in a mortuary context remain unclear, the most plausible explanation is that this fox was a valuable companion to the hunter-gatherer groups.
'Its strong bond with human individuals during its life would have been the primary factor for its placement as a grave good after the death of its owners or the people with whom it interacted.'
Address of this article:http://guam.afischerphasedrives.com/content-56b199939.html
Very good!(17)
Related articles
- Spanish city of Barcelona celebrates day of books and love
- 11th Straits Youth Day Marked in Fuzhou
- Changshan Shows the Way to Boost Births
- China Launches New Disaster Reduction Satellite
- Warning signs of a mini
- Digital Audiovisual Art Fuels China's Culture, Tourism Consumption
- Danxia National Geological Park in NW China Attracts Tourists with Unique Landscape
- 11th Straits Youth Day Marked in Fuzhou
- China rejects US accusations over normal China
- Travel prices for May Day holiday surge
Popular articles
Recommended
Chinese business group 'shocked, dissatisfied' over EU raids on Chinese company
Qilou Compound in S China's Haikou Turns into Major Tourist Attraction
Commodity, Trade Expo Opens in Xinjiang with Focus on Trade Promotion
China Takes 5th Consecutive Women's Team Title in Asiad Table Tennis
Belarus labels German state broadcaster Deutsche Welle ‘extremist,’ bans activities in the country
Relocated Villagers in Jinghai District of China's Tianjin Return Home As Flood Recedes
World University Games Village Opens in Chengdu
Representatives from over 130 Countries to Attend 3rd Belt and Road Forum for Int'l Cooperation
Links
- Commentary: Innovative greening manifests China's environmental preservation drive
- Commentary: 2024 ushers in vibrant Chinese economy
- Feature: Chinese
- Protection of consumers' personal information highlighted in China's new regulations
- Commentary: Philippines' provocation undermines regional stability
- Commentary: Provocations by the Philippines in South China Sea unwise, futile
- Freeze chicken, remove skin: Expert's top tips for avoiding deadly campylobacter
- Commentary: 2024 ushers in vibrant Chinese economy
- Desert county in NW China's Xinjiang experiences bountiful cistanche harvest
- More Australian towns threatened by massive bushfire