Spanish scientists have studied the bones of dogs alive 3,000 years ago and found that during the Bronze Age, they were vegetarians. As it turned out, the pet food was mainly grain plants, although their ancestors ate meat, Daily Mail reports.
The remains of dogs found at Can Roqueta, Spain, near Barcelona, date from 1300 to 550 BC; archaeologists studied 36 dogs, and 17 of them did not have edible meat in the body. The carbon and nitrogen content of their bones was almost the same as that of cattle at that time.
"When people started growing plants in the Neolithic era, they reduced hunting, so they together with their pets switched to a vegetarian diet," Silvia Albizuri, the Zoo Archaeologist at the University of Barcelona, said.
The dog ration consisted mainly of grains such as millet. This was due to the fact that the owner almost did not eat meat. The dogs guarded the house and the cattle while their food was enriched with carbohydrates of plant origin.
It should be noted that vegetarianism was characteristic of dogs only in regions where their owners pursued agriculture, while in areas with relatively cold climates, where hunting was the source of livelihood, dogs were also meat-eaters.
The question of when humans domesticated a dog is a matter of debate in science. Some believe it happened 14,000 years ago, while others believe it happened 40,000 years ago.
Modern dogs, unlike cats, can be fed vegetables and grains. However, according to doctors, it is necessary to consult a veterinarian for this.
Photos:Journal of World Prehistory
