The wolf, the wild ancestor of dogs, stands as the sole large carnivore domesticated by humans. Nonetheless, the exact nature of this domestication remains a topic of debate—whether it was a result of direct human control over wild wolves or a gradual adaptation of wolf populations to human environments. Recent archaeological findings in the Stra Fjärväl cave on the Swedish island of Stra Karsø, located in the Baltic Sea, have revealed the remains of two canids with genetic ties to gray wolves. This island, measuring just 2.5 km2, possesses no native land mammals, similar to its neighboring Gotland, and thus any mammalian presence must have been human-introduced.
Canadian Eskimo Dog by John James Audubon and John Bachman.
“The discovery of wolves on such a remote island was entirely unexpected,” remarked Dr. Linus Gardland Frink, a researcher from the University of Aberdeen.
“They not only had genetic links indistinguishable from other Eurasian wolves but also seemed to coexist and feed alongside humans in areas that were only reachable by boat.”
“This paints a complex picture of the historical dynamics between humans and wolves.”
Genomic analysis of the canid remains indicates they are wolves, not dogs.
However, their traits suggest a level of coexistence with humans.
Isotope analysis of their bones indicates a diet high in marine proteins, such as seals and fish, mirroring the diet of the humans on the island, suggesting they were likely fed.
Furthermore, these wolves were smaller than typical mainland counterparts, and one individual demonstrated signs of low genetic diversity—a common outcome due to isolation or controlled breeding.
This findings challenge long-standing notions regarding the power dynamics between wolves and humans and the domestication of dogs.
While it is unclear if these wolves were domesticated, confined, or managed, their presence in human-occupied areas suggests deliberate and ongoing interactions.
“The fact that it was a wolf and not a dog was a complete surprise,” stated Dr. Pontus Skoglund from the Francis Crick Institute.
“This provocative case suggests that under certain conditions, humans may have kept wolves in their habitats and found them valuable.”
“The genetic findings are intriguing,” noted Dr. Anders Bergström from the University of East Anglia.
“We discovered that the wolf with the most complete genome showed less genetic diversity than any ancient wolf previously analyzed.”
“This resembles what is observed in isolated or bottlenecked populations, or in domesticated species.”
“Although we cannot completely dismiss the idea that low genetic diversity may occur naturally, it implies humans were likely interacting with and managing wolves in ways not previously considered.”
One Bronze Age wolf specimen also presented advanced pathology in its limb bones, which would have restricted its mobility.
This suggests care or adaptation to an environment where large prey hunting was unnecessary for survival.
Professor Jan Stroh of Stockholm University stated: “The combined data offers new and unexpected perspectives on human-animal interactions during the Stone and Bronze Ages, especially regarding wolves and dogs.”
“These findings imply that prehistoric interactions between humans and wolves were more intricate than previously understood, involving complex relationships that extend beyond simple hunting or avoidance, hinting at new aspects of domestication unrelated to modern dogs.”
A study detailing this research was published on November 24th in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
_____
Linus Gardland-Frink et al. 2025. A gray wolf in the anthropogenic setting of a small prehistoric Scandinavian island. PNAS 122 (48): e2421759122; doi: 10.1073/pnas.2421759122
Source: www.sci.news
