In an astonishing revelation that reshapes our understanding of ancient predators, two 14,000-year-old mummified wolf cubs, discovered in Siberia, challenge assumptions about early canine domestication.
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Found with their fur intact, these cub sisters offer insights into a world long gone yet eerily similar to our own.
This discovery, devoid of human interaction, raises questions about the evolution of wolves versus dogs and the mysterious timeline of domestication.
The two wolf cubs, found near Tumat, Siberia, in 2011 and 2015, were initially thought to belong to early domesticated dogs.
However, DNA testing later revealed that these cubs were in fact members of an extinct lineage closely related to modern wolves.
They provide significant information about the environment and lifestyle of wolves during the Pleistocene era.
Researchers led by Anne Kathrine Runge analyzed genetic data and chemical signatures from the cubs’ remains.
This analysis uncovered details about the diet and habitat of the cubs, including their last meals of woolly rhinoceros and wagtail bird parts.
“Whilst many will be disappointed that these animals are almost certainly wolves and not early domesticated dogs, they have helped us get closer to understanding the environment at the time, how these animals lived, and how remarkably similar wolves from more than 14,000 years ago are to modern day wolves,” said Runge.
The study, published in the journal Quaternary Research, suggests the wolf cubs died when their den collapsed, a plausible end considering their remote location and the harsh conditions of prehistoric Siberia.
The environment they inhabited was likely dry and mild, situated near a river or oxbow lake, creating a unique hunting ground that provided ample resources for survival.
“It was incredible to find two sisters from this era so well preserved, but even more incredible that we can now tell so much of their story, down to the last meal they ate,” Runge added.
The cubs, still nursing from their mother, managed to eat solid food as well, illustrating the adaptive behaviors of these ancient creatures.
Despite signs of human presence nearby, such as woolly mammoth bones that showed evidence of human interaction, the wolf cubs themselves displayed no signs of human domestication or scavenging.
This points to a natural, unassisted lifestyle, indicating the presence of predators who were masters of their environment, even without human intervention.
The discovery of these “Tumat Puppies” highlights the potential for further research into ancient wolves preserved in the permafrost.
With much still unknown about the origins of dog domestication, these findings urge us to reconsider our understanding of human-canine relationships during the Late Pleistocene era.
The genetic divergence of dogs and wolves, occurring between 20,000 to 40,000 years ago, remains a subject of intrigue for archaeologists and historians alike.
The ancient tale of these wolf cubs, while a mystery in parts, enriches our knowledge of prehistoric life and the complex history of canine evolution.
14,000-year-old mummified ‘puppies’ unearthed with fur still intact in ‘incredible’ discovery https://t.co/kGB4g7Hb9o pic.twitter.com/cuKeCy2rDS
— New York Post (@nypost) June 25, 2025
