Credit: Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.103969
Posted on 04/26/2023 10:54:01 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
...the group examined the remains of a dog found in a tomb in what was once a city called Tralleis, in what is now modern Turkey.
The dog remains were found at a dig site in Aydın back in 2007, but were considered too delicate for study at the time—they were put in safe storage instead. In 2021, the team on this new effort retrieved the bones and began a slow study of the bones to learn more about the dog.
Though the specimen was not complete, the research team was still able to determine that it was a dog and that it had been treated well. Many dog remains have been found from Roman times, and because most were used as work animals, most were not well treated. The team identified the dog as a brachycephalic breed, a group that includes flat-faced dogs such as boxers, pugs and chow chows. The find was unique; only one other brachycephalic breed had ever been found before from a place in the Roman Empire, and that was in the ruins of Pompeii. It also marks the oldest known find of a brachycephalic anywhere, suggesting the Romans may have been the first to breed flat-faced dogs.
The research team was also able to deduce the dog's general size and found it to be smaller than they had expected. Carbon dating revealed it to be from between 1,942 and 2,118 years ago. Also, study of its teeth showed that it had barely made it to adulthood before dying. The team also compared the skull with several modern dog breeds and found it looked mostly like a French bulldog.
(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...
Labs are the way to go in the absence of some specific other task of interest.
I think she covered the story for the Roman Empire Gazette.
My mom was a big fan of Pekingese dogs. They have flat faces like pugs.
I care...Please send Grant Money and I will tell you more. lol
Since we are talking ancient Rome, poor little guy looks like he spent his time running around chasing Parked Chariots.
So cute. We have a pug, she is lying right next to me and snoring up a storm. She is my son’s dog but she follows me everywhere. If I go outside, there she is at the window watching me. They really are Velcro dogs.
That's because it wasn't able to breathe.
I remember seeing a Roman portrait, of a lady holding a flat-faced lapdog.
Possibly in my middle school history book.
Going back a ways.
Yep. And later today when I do a Sam’s and Lowe’s run, my little Yorkiepoo will be sitting on the truck console. He’ll wait patiently in the truck while I’m inside...and then get a walk around the parking lot claiming territory via raised leg. It’s still cool outside, so I can get away with taking him. Summer will be a rude shock for him when he’ll have to stay home.
Bkmrk.
My aunt owned one of those...it ate its own poop. I’ve stuck with cats ever since. :-)
Ah, self-loading trebuchet ammo!
I like that “Velcro” dog moniker. It definitely describes our little girl - we had to say good bye on Valentine’s Day. She would’ve been 15 years old May 13th.
We miss her.
Yeah, them Roman pervs would have sex with anything ....
Ahem.
Dobermans are unquestionably superior for all human needs.
I am completely unbiased.
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