When the first wolf approached a human campfire: scientists have pinpointed the exact time.

A new study has revealed that humans domesticated dogs thousands of years earlier than previously thought, reports Daily Mail.

This conclusion was drawn by researchers based on an analysis of dog bones found in Alaska. It turns out that the bond between humans and dogs began much earlier than 10,000 B.C.

A team from the University of Arizona discovered a 12,000-year-old shinbone belonging to an adult dog the size of a wolf. The remains were found at the Swan Point archaeological site, which contains the oldest evidence of human habitation in the state.

The ancient dog lived during a period bordering the end of the Ice Age. This suggests that the ancient inhabitants of Alaska formed a friendship with dogs approximately 2,000 years earlier than previously assumed.

The team also uncovered an 8,100-year-old dog jawbone at a nearby excavation site. According to experts, this indicates a consistent presence of domesticated dogs in human settlements.

"Until you find the remains of these animals at archaeological digs, assumptions will remain just that—assumptions," says lead author François Lanoë, an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Arizona.

However, Lanoë was able to uncover the missing evidence.

"We have evidence that canines and humans formed a bond in America much earlier than we might have guessed," notes Lanoë.

Chemical analysis showed that the bones contained salmon proteins, indicating that dogs regularly consumed fish. The fact is that dogs in that period and region only hunted terrestrial animals.

The most logical explanation is that the dogs were fed fish caught by humans.

"This is undeniable evidence, as dogs do not hunt for salmon in the wild," emphasizes co-author Ben Potter.

On the other hand, the question remains open as to whether these animals were closer to modern dogs or were still domesticated wolves.

Recall that scientists have named the most intelligent dog breeds. In the animal kingdom, having a large brain is typically associated with higher intelligence, but now scientists believe this does not apply to domestic dogs.