News Archaeology

Dog DNA reveals ancient trade network connecting the Arctic to the outside world

Isolated communities traded canines and other goods with the Near East and Europe

two Siberian sled dogs

Siberian dogs such as these were isolated from other canine populations for thousands of years, until their owners started trading with the outside world.

Robert Losey/Univ. of Alberta

By Freda Kreier

Ancient Arctic communities traded with the outside world as early as 7,000 years ago, DNA from the remains of Siberian dogs suggests.   

Analysis of the DNA shows that Arctic pups thousands of years ago were interbreeding with other dogs from Europe and the Near East, even while they and their owners were living in one of the most remote places on Earth.