New study reveals the first English settlers in North America ate dogs with indigenous ancestry

A recent study published in American Antiquity by researchers from the University of Iowa revealed that the first English settlers to arrive in North America resorted to eating indigenous dogs to survive an extreme period of starvation.

New study reveals the first English settlers in North America ate dogs with indigenous ancestryA scene of a street in Jamestown, circa 1650 (Keith Rocco, artist). Credit: National Park Service

The study, conducted by a team led by Ariane E. Thomas, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Iowa, analyzed genetic material from archaeological specimens of dogs that lived in Jamestown between 1609 and 1617 CE.

The researchers uncovered surprising evidence that at least six dogs in Jamestown had unmistakable Native American ancestry and were consumed by the settlers during a period of severe starvation known as the Starving Time. These dogs shared genetic similarities with canines from the Hopewellian, Mississippian, and Late Woodland periods of eastern North America.

This discovery suggests that early European colonists heavily relied on local Indigenous groups for survival, especially during the initial settlement phase. The presence of Indigenous dogs in Jamestown reflects a more complex relationship between the British settlers and the Powhatan people than previously ᴀssumed.

New study reveals the first English settlers in North America ate dogs with indigenous ancestryComposite map of butchery and impact marks across dog skeletons. Credit: Ariane E. Thomas et al. American Antiquity (2024)

The archaeological evidence, including bone modifications consistent with butchering and consumption, indicates that the settlers resorted to eating dogs during times of extreme hardship. This practice, while taboo in modern Western societies, was not uncommon in Europe during periods of stress.

The Starving Time, marked by food shortages, disease, violence with Indigenous tribes, and harsh environmental conditions, took a devastating toll on the Jamestown community, with up to 90% of the settlers perishing. George Percy, one of the original colonists, documented the desperation of the time, including instances of cannibalism and the consumption of vermin and domestic animals.

Furthermore, the genetic analysis of the dogs highlights the social entanglement between colonizers and Indigenous communities. Dogs served as both a connection and a source of tension between the two cultures.

Lead researcher Ariane E. Thomas said: “The ancestry of the Jamestown dogs provides insight into European and Indigenous management of their dogs. Dogs with ancestry predominantly from Europe suggest that either British, Powhatan, or both groups kept their dogs from interacting with each other to maintain specific behaviors or observable phenotypes important to that group.

“Identifying Indigenous dogs at Jamestown suggests a more complex engagement between the British and Powhatan peoples… This second, more complex dynamic is more representative of history,” she added.

More information: Thomas AE, Hill ME, Stricker L, et al. (2024). The Dogs of Tsenacomoco: Ancient DNA Reveals the Presence of Local Dogs at Jamestown Colony in the Early Seventeenth Century. American Antiquity:1-19. doi:10.1017/aaq.2024.25

Related Posts

Bremenium Fort excavation uncovers remarkable Roman artifacts and structures in Northumberland

Bremenium Fort excavation uncovers remarkable Roman artifacts and structures in Northumberland

Archaeologists have completed the fifth and most fruitful excavation season at Bremenium Fort in High Rochester, Northumberland National Park, and have uncovered the largest range of artifacts…

1,400-year-old ice storage from Baekje Kingdom unearthed beneath Busosanseong Fortress in South Korea

1,400-year-old ice storage from Baekje Kingdom unearthed beneath Busosanseong Fortress in South Korea

Archaeologists in South Korea have uncovered the first ice storage facility ever recorded from the Baekje Sabi period (538–660 CE) at the Busosanseong Fortress, a UNESCO World…

Iron Age Iberian DNA reveals deep roots and high maternal lineage diversity

Iron Age Iberian DNA reveals deep roots and high maternal lineage diversity

A genetic study has now reconstructed the maternal ancestry of Iron Age Iberians in north-eastern Spain, revealing a population deeply embedded in local continuity but influenced by…

The Whispering Chambers of the Red Cliff

High upon a red sandstone cliff, where wind carves the air into whispers and time itself seems to hesitate, stand a series of perfectly squared windows cut…

Ancient hominin Paranthropus boisei had human-like grip and may have used tools, fossil study reveals

Ancient hominin Paranthropus boisei had human-like grip and may have used tools, fossil study reveals

A recently analyzed set of 1.5-million-year-old Kenyan fossils has provided the most complete view yet of the anatomy of Paranthropus boisei, an ancient hominin known for its…

Skeleton-filled well in Croatia reveals lost Roman soldiers from a forgotten battle

Skeleton-filled well in Croatia reveals lost Roman soldiers from a forgotten battle

Archaeologists in eastern Croatia have unearthed a horrific scene from the Roman Empire’s turbulent past — a mᴀss grave of seven men, likely Roman soldiers, interred deep…