Palaeolithic dog skulls at the Gravettian Předmostí site, the Czech Republic

Whether or not the wolf was domesticated during the early Upper Palaeolithic remains a controversial issue. We carried out detailed analyses of the skull material from the Gravettian Předmostí site, Czech Republic, to investigate the issue. Three complete skulls from Předmostí were identified as Palaeolithic dogs, characterized by short skull lengths, short snouts, and wide palates and braincases relative to wolves. One complete skull could be assigned to the group of Pleistocene wolves. Three other skulls could not be assigned to a reference group; these might be remains from hybrids or captive wolves. Modifications by humans of the skull and canine remains from the large canids of Předmostí indicate a specific relationship between humans and large canids.

► Accepting an Aurignacian beginning of the domestication of the wolf is controversial.
► The Gravettian canid skulls from Předmostí were studied to check for the presence of dogs.
► Ancient dogs are characterized by short skulls and snouts, and wide palates and braincases.
► Using these criteria three Předmostí skulls were singled out as Gravettian dogs.
► Human modifications of the skulls hint at a specific human/large canid relationship.