New research from two major Australian universities has revealed that Dingoes were buried - and domesticated - by Indigenous people in the period before colonisation.
Researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Western Australia (UWA) examined remains at the Curracurrang archaeological site, south of Sydney.
Radiocarbon dating of Dingo bones has shown the animal was often buried alongside humans up to 2,000 years ago.
The research, which has appeared in the peer reviewed journal, PLOS One, said by the time of colonisation, "close bond between dingoes and Indigenous people was entrenched," something that has been documented by numerous observers.
Research has shown that Dingoes have existed on the Australian continent for approximately 3300 years. The name Dingo comes from the Dharug people; specifically, the Dharug word din-gu. The first interaction with colonisers in 1789 gave the name wider usage in English.
"In daily life dingoes were used for a variety of purposes including as personal protection, warmth, companionship, as guards, and as a 'living technology' for hunting," the study notes.
Lead researcher Dr Loukas Koungoulos, from the school of Culture, History and Language at ANU said this care to bury the widely considered wild animal suggests a closer relationship between First Peoples and Dingoes than ever previously thought.
"Not all camp dingoes were given burial rites," Dr Koungoulos said.
"But in all areas in which the burials are recorded, the process and methods of disposal are identical or almost identical to those associated with human rites in the same area.
"This reflects the close bond between people and dingoes and their almost-human status."
Researchers also found severely worn teeth at the site. This suggests Dingoes diet was heavy in large bones, likely to be scraps from human meals.
"At Curracurrang, the primary evidence for relationships between people and the buried dingoes are the presence of older animals with evidence of diets altered by anthropogenic resources (environmental change due to human activity)", the study said.
Researchers were also able to identify remains of dingoes buried at the site in various ages - from pups to more advanced animals aged six to eight.
They argue this shows Indigenous people didn't only care for young Dingoes before they were returned to the wild; rather they were able to foster substantial relationships with the animal throughout their lifespan - in a similar way humans interact with domesticated animals today.
"Not all camp Dingoes were given burial rites, but in all areas in which the burials are recorded, the process and methods of disposal are identical or almost identical to those associated with human rites in the same area," the study said.
"This reflects the close bond between people and dingoes, and their 'almost human' status."
Co-author Prof Susan O'Connor said these findings are an important development for identifying the substantial relationship that occurred between Indigenous people and Dingoes in the time before European colonisation of the continent.
"By the time Europeans settled in Australia, the bond between dingoes and Indigenous people was entrenched," Prof. O'Connor said.
"Our work shows that they had long-lasting relationships prior to European colonisation, not just the transient temporary associations recorded during the colonial era."
