REVIEW BY KK
This volume brings together the current evidence of dogs in the past: from their evolution from wild animals to domesticated pets, to their presence in the archaeological record, through to their importance in myths and legends. Combining the expertise of geneticists, zoologists, archaeologists, and historians, the book offers a holistic account of the important role ‘man’s best friend’ has played – and plays – in the human lives over millennia.
Importantly, the volume clearly lays out the gaps in our knowledge, particularly regarding when and where domestication of dogs first occurred, as well as the subsequent evolution and spread of different species across the globe. In the ever-evolving field of aDNA, knowledge is rapidly changing as new evidence and techniques become available, and some papers in this volume will be quickly surpassed by new research. This does not lessen its impact, however, and the book is to be commended for the sheer breadth of its subjects, allowing the reader to appreciate the lasting impact of our four-legged friends on history.
Just Out and Coming Soon
Revisiting Grooved Ware
Mike Copper, Alasdair Whittle, and Alison Sheridan (eds)
Oxbow, £45
ISBN 979-8888570326
