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Melinda Zeder who is curator of Old World Archaeology at the Smithsonian in Washington has revealed the results of a study into the DNA of the world`s most ancient dogs. In trying to trace the world`s oldest dog breeds she studied the Pharaoh Hound, Basenji and Ibizan Hound all of which bear a resemblance to the Podengo Medio and Podengo Grande.
Her findings show that dogs in North and South America originated in Europe, almost certainly brought across the ocean by settlers in ships. In fact dog migration generally seems to have followed the pattern of human migration. There is no evidence that dogs descended from the wolves of North America. Instead she believes that dogs first developed in Eurasia. probably from the local gray wolf. Some of the dogs , similar to those depicted in Ancient Egyptian wall paintings, 5,000 years old, were found to have much more recent DNA, She surmises that perhaps even the breeds regarded as the most ancient have constantly interbred with later strains.
Although it is not clear whether she studied any Podengos, the same results would surely hold true fior these dogs as for their apparently close relatives.
Her findings show that dogs in North and South America originated in Europe, almost certainly brought across the ocean by settlers in ships. In fact dog migration generally seems to have followed the pattern of human migration. There is no evidence that dogs descended from the wolves of North America. Instead she believes that dogs first developed in Eurasia. probably from the local gray wolf. Some of the dogs , similar to those depicted in Ancient Egyptian wall paintings, 5,000 years old, were found to have much more recent DNA, She surmises that perhaps even the breeds regarded as the most ancient have constantly interbred with later strains.
Although it is not clear whether she studied any Podengos, the same results would surely hold true fior these dogs as for their apparently close relatives.
