Posted on 09/23/2006 3:40:14 PM PDT by blam
Mummified dogs uncovered in Peru
By Dan Collins
BBC News, Lima
Archaeologists in Peru have uncovered the mummified remains of more than 40 dogs buried with blankets and food alongside their human masters.
The discovery was made during the excavation of two of the ancient Chiribaya people who lived in southern Peru between 900 and 1350 AD.
Experts say the dogs' treatment in death indicated the belief that the animals had an afterlife.
Such a status for pets has only previously been seen in ancient Egypt.
Hundreds of years before the European conquest of South America, the Chiribaya civilisation valued its dogs so highly that when one died, it was buried alongside family members.
'Distinct breed'
The dogs, which have been called Chiribaya shepherds for their llama-herding abilities, were not sacrificed as in other ancient cultures, but buried with blankets and food in human cemeteries.
Biological archaeologists have unearthed the remains of more than 40 dogs which were naturally mummified in the desert sand of Peru's southern Ilo Valley.
Now they have teamed up with Peru's Kennel Club to try to establish if the dogs represent a new distinct breed indigenous to South America.
The country is full of breeds which arrived in the last few centuries, but they believe some dogs living today in southern Peru share the characteristics of their ancestors.
The Chiribaya dog looked rather like a small Golden Retriever with a medium-sized snout, beige colouring, and long hair.
The only other indigenous Peruvian canine is the hairless dog, which evolved over more than 2,000 years from Asian ancestors brought across the Bering Straits.
It was recognised as a distinct breed just 20 years ago.
I saw a Peruvian hairless once, she was HOT!
Maybe related to these guys:
Genetic (mitochondrial DNA) testing being performed at the University of South Carolina, College of Science and Mathematics, indicates that these dogs, related to the earliest domesticated dogs, are the remnant descendants of the feral pariah canids who came across the Bering land mass 8,000 to 11,000 years ago as hunting companions to the ancestors of the Native Americans.
I like the concept of an afterlife for dogs. They are so very much part of one's family. Not the @ssclown in the photo. I mean good dogs. ; )
When Slick finds this out, he'll probably try to date one.
Why would he do that he already has one BITCH at home.
Were ceremonial jars of Alpo found alongside?
;^)
"Experts say the dogs' treatment in death indicated the belief that the animals had an afterlife."
Is there any doubt that dogs won't be joining us in the Afterlife? If not, I ain't goin'! I'd much rather meet up in Heaven with any of my former pet dogs than with either of my Ex-Husbands, LOL!
Maybe this bitch would be a lot easier to get along with.
I'm so stuned by the mummifird dogs that I may have to use my beeber! ;-)
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Due to burial laws, I'm doing it backwards.
When I go, I'm being cremated so I can be buried with my dogs....;D
See dog in post #14.
Neat.
Isn't there something unusual about these dogs.
They're like "ur dogs"....;)
They've remained exactly the same as you see them now for at *least* 6000 years.
They have no odor, are totally pack-oriented and do not exhibit the same classic play behavior as "normal" dogs.
Their vocalizations are not normal either.
When I had Dobermans and Ibizans at the same time, a lot of bickering broke out because it was as though the two breeds were speaking entirely different 'languages'.
Living with them is unlike any other breed of dog and you have to almost forget everything you know about dogs, per se and learn an entirely different canine paradigm.
As far as the Carolina Dingos go, I'd be they came with the Phoenicians on the -east- coast rather over the Bering straits with "Indians" as the article suggests.
The Phoenicians were responsible for taking Ibizans from their native Egypt to Phoenicia and the islands of Malta and Ibiza.
It's easy to imagine them bringing specially cross-bred dogs with them on their voyages since they hauled them everywhere else.
Heck, Hannibal took Ibizans with him over the Alps and Ibizans have have shown up in Irish/Celtic art and mythology.
[the "Cu Sidhe" of the fairy folk were white, "baying" dogs with red eyes, ears and noses and only Ibizans fit that description]
It's a weird breed with a lot of history and mythology.
"As far as the Carolina Dingos go, I'd be they came with the Phoenicians on the -east- coast rather over the Bering straits with "Indians" as the article suggests."
Perfect synchronicity link!
Thanks!
Malta and Ibiza are part of of Iberia.
[now Spain]
I'm sending that aricle to my dog's breeder...she'll love it.
Thanks again, Blam!
Experts say the dogs' treatment in death indicated the belief that the animals had an afterlife.
Such a status for pets has only previously been seen in ancient Egypt.
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