by Saleen Martin

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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Some settlers ate the indigenous dogs out of desperation in the early 17th century.

The remains of ancient dogs that were likely wolf or coyote-sized were found at the University of Iowa and they were confirmed to be those of ancient dogs.

The first proof that indigenous dogs existed in the 17th century was found at the site. The bones are part of an artifact collection.

Some of the earliest introduction of dogs to North America were reached by their descendants. Ariane Thomas is a student at the University of Iowa

The news of the discovery was first reported in the spring when the team only had two dogs. A third dog has been added to the team's project, which is related to the remains of a Native American.

Researchers from the University of Iowa and Jamestown Rediscovery said that the Hatch site is at least 1000 years old.

The team wants to learn more about the history of European dogs. This is the first step in figuring it out.

Today's dogs are larger than ancient indigenous dogs.

Micheal Lavin is the director of collections. Over 3 million artifacts related to the first settlement in May 1607 have been recovered thanks to the research archaeology program.

She asked to research the remains because she wanted to know if the indigenous dogs were killed or bred with European dogs.

Since it's the first permanent English settlement in North America, it was the perfect place to find this.

Thomas's team looked at the maxilla, or the upper part of the dog's jaw, because those tooth roots are the best place to take a sample for genetic testing.

Previously, archaeologists didn't know if the dog remains they found were English or European, and they didn't know if they were related to any known European dog breeds.

The ancestors ate ancient dogs.

Some excavations have led to the discovery of items related to the winter of 1609 to 1610.

It was one of the most challenging periods in the history of the colony. Due to a lack of water and other factors, only about 60 people in the colony were able to survive.

He told U.S. TODAY that they used to eat taboo foods like horses, dogs, cats, rats, and humans. Humans used to cannibalism after they died. The dog story is proof of the horrible winter.

Matthew E. Hill Jr., associate professor of anthropology at the University of Iowa, said that there is evidence of people eating dogs. It is not as if dogs were a staple in the colonists' diet. During times of great stress, it was happening.

There's more on ancient dogs.

The team looked at dogs that native people used to hunt. The scent- tracking was useful.

The Chief of Native Virginians was given a white greyhound by colonist leaders, according to Thomas.

The gift came from King James I, but I don't believe there are many other instances of dogs being given as gifts.

She said researchers don't know if the indigenous dogs found at Jamestown were gifts or traded between Virginians.

It's possible. It is1-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-65561-6556 The man said, "Thomas said." The dogs may have traveled to Virginia with Native Virginians and stayed there.

The team is trying to piece together the role dogs played in the country's early years, thanks to the findings about ancient indigenous dogs.

The USA Today will be published in 2023.

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