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Our ancestors may have kept foxes as pets long before domestic dogs came on the scene (www.bbc.com)

submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Archaeological evidence suggests ancient human societies in South America revered foxes to such an extent that they were buried next to them.

Scientists were surprised to find a fox buried in a human grave dating back 1,500 years in Patagonia, Argentina.

They think the most likely explanation is that the fox was a highly valued companion or pet.

DNA analysis shows the animal dined with prehistoric hunter gatherers and was part of the inner circle of the camp.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

Ha. Yeah estimated at 15,000 years ago. Archeaology often seems presumptious... We found a single fox buried with a human. Ergo: all humans had a fox named Slinky, whom they shared their secrets with in fox tongue language -- those that they could not divuldge to their family, lest they be scorned.