Dingoes, companions in life and death: The significance of archaeological canid burial practices in Australia.

ABSTRACT: The dingo, also known as the Australian native dog, was introduced in the late Holocene. Dingoes were primarily wild animals but a number resided in Aboriginal people's camps. Traditionally, these individuals were taken from wild litters before weaning and raised by Aboriginal people. It is generally believed that these dingoes were not directly provided for, and upon sexual maturity, returned to reproduce in the wild. However, some died while in the company of people and, were buried in occupation sites. This Australian practice parallels the burial of domestic dogs in many regions of the Asia-Pacific and beyond but has attracted very little research. We explore the historical and archaeological evidence for dingo burial, examining its different forms, chronological and geographic distrib

SUBMITTER: Koungoulos LG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10588905 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature