Domestication of dogs is said to be around 15,000 years ago and “caveman” refers to humans in the paleolithic which is between 3.3 million and 11,700 years ago. So there’s a few thousand years where technically a “caveman” could have a pet dog.
Domestication of cats occurred around 9,500 years ago so past the cutoff for caveman.
I’ll happily acknowledge that you seem to know much more about this topic than I, so the following isn’t intended as a correction, merely the suppositions of a lay person.
The question is really subjective. What is a caveman and what is a pet and how does that relate to a domestic pet.
I’m sure there has been some kind of opportunistic co-operation since forever, even if it’s as simple as a wolf pack not attacking a group of hominids because they’re dangerous but also sooner or later they will kill something and leave a carcass.
At the other end of that spectrum is something like a modern service dog which is an extension of the capability of a hominid.
Somewhere in there you cross a threshold to be a “domestic pet” whatever that is.
Another aspect of what I’m saying is that even if domestic pets emerged there will be instances of remarkable pet-like behaviors stretching back much further.
As an aside, I didn’t really read the article you linked but one part, perhaps out of context, says:
domestication of the dog began in Siberia 26,000-19,700 years ago by Ancient North Eurasians
I honestly just looked up the dates on Wikipedia! I was surprised that the dates of dog domestication and “caveman” actually overlapped but it feels like a technicality to me. The question is definitely subjective. The date range of “caveman” is literally millions of years. Human ancestors 3 million years ago and 11,700 years ago would have huge differences. I’d assume 11,700 years ago the people were more like nomadic tribes and less like “caveman”. I also don’t believe the first dogs were really pets as much as they were just alright with being around humans. Whereas the domestication of cats article talks about finding humans being buried with cats which is more of a direct sign of a pet relationship.
It’s definitely an interesting question that deserves a bit more thought than overlapping dates!
Domestication of dogs is said to be around 15,000 years ago and “caveman” refers to humans in the paleolithic which is between 3.3 million and 11,700 years ago. So there’s a few thousand years where technically a “caveman” could have a pet dog.
Domestication of cats occurred around 9,500 years ago so past the cutoff for caveman.
Cats were like… get a proper house and some animals that do milk and I’ll think about moving in 😤
Sees pyramid
Cat: “They’re ready.”
To add, cats partnerships with humanity came with agriculture which is post caveman.
I’ll happily acknowledge that you seem to know much more about this topic than I, so the following isn’t intended as a correction, merely the suppositions of a lay person.
The question is really subjective. What is a caveman and what is a pet and how does that relate to a domestic pet.
I’m sure there has been some kind of opportunistic co-operation since forever, even if it’s as simple as a wolf pack not attacking a group of hominids because they’re dangerous but also sooner or later they will kill something and leave a carcass.
At the other end of that spectrum is something like a modern service dog which is an extension of the capability of a hominid.
Somewhere in there you cross a threshold to be a “domestic pet” whatever that is.
Another aspect of what I’m saying is that even if domestic pets emerged there will be instances of remarkable pet-like behaviors stretching back much further.
As an aside, I didn’t really read the article you linked but one part, perhaps out of context, says:
I honestly just looked up the dates on Wikipedia! I was surprised that the dates of dog domestication and “caveman” actually overlapped but it feels like a technicality to me. The question is definitely subjective. The date range of “caveman” is literally millions of years. Human ancestors 3 million years ago and 11,700 years ago would have huge differences. I’d assume 11,700 years ago the people were more like nomadic tribes and less like “caveman”. I also don’t believe the first dogs were really pets as much as they were just alright with being around humans. Whereas the domestication of cats article talks about finding humans being buried with cats which is more of a direct sign of a pet relationship.
It’s definitely an interesting question that deserves a bit more thought than overlapping dates!