Archaeologists from the University of Sydney have made a remarkable discovery that sheds new light on the origins of Australian dingoes.
Their research suggests a strong connection between dingoes and dog breeds found in East Asia and New Guinea, challenging long-held beliefs that traced the lineage of these unique canines to pariah dogs in India or Thailand.
Innovative Research Methods
For years, scholars relied on traditional morphometric methods to explore the ancestry of dingoes, often pointing back to South Asia.
However, recent findings published in Nature Scientific Reports have taken a more innovative approach.
By employing advanced 3D scanning and geometric morphometrics to analyze ancient dingo specimens, researchers uncovered that these ancestral dogs share striking morphological similarities with Japanese breeds, the New Guinea ‘singing dogs,’ and wild highland canines from Irian Jaya.
Collaboration and Findings
Dr. Loukas Koungoulos, a research associate in the Discipline of Archaeology at the University of Sydney, reflects on the century-long debate regarding dingo origins.
His team’s findings suggest that dingoes likely evolved from a common ancestor—a dog-like species that hails from East Asia.
The research involved a thorough examination of dingo remains excavated from Lake Mungo and Lake Milkengay in western New South Wales.
Along with co-researchers Associate Professor Melanie Fillios and Dr. Ardern Hulme-Beaman, Koungoulos highlighted the ancient lineage of dingoes, indicating that they share a genetic heritage with more contemporary dog breeds in Southeast Asia.
Their collaboration with the Traditional Owners of the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area led to radiocarbon dating, revealing that some remains date back over 3,000 years.
Evolutionary Changes
In addition to uncovering historical roots, the study also pointed out how modern dingoes have evolved.
Today, these canines typically stand around 54 centimeters tall, a noticeable increase compared to their ancient ancestors, who measured between 40 and 47 centimeters.
This size change aligns modern dingoes more closely with dog breeds in Southeast Asia and Melanesia, highlighting the dynamic nature of their evolution over the millennia.
Source: ScienceDaily