Ancient remains in Turkey from 15,800 years ago have been confirmed as coming from a dog, the earliest one ever found. Genetic evidence also reveals that our best friends began paling around with people when humans were hunter-gatherers and agriculture hadn’t yet sprouted.

When dogs were domesticated is a tough question, given the physical and genetic similarities between dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and grey wolves (Canis lupus).

Previously, the oldest remains genetically identified as being from a dog date to a little less than 11-thousand years ago. However, there are dog-like bones from as far back as 33-thousand years! These weren’t really what we consider dogs now, but known as incipient dogs.

Some of the evidence also indicates that those dogs were also buried in the same manner as humans at the time, indicating they may have meant a great deal to those people.

You can read more in the Smithsonian article here.