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Mesolithic and modern dogs at Lunt Meadows

Dogs played a central role in our history - and they're still a vitally important part of our conservation work today.

Dogs were the first ever animal to be domesticated, dating back to prehistoric times. The domestication of dogs even precedes agriculture, meaning humans were using dogs before they began farming. Very little research has been completed on the earliest dogs in Europe; those found in Mesolithic (middle stone age) settlements. Our own Mesolithic site at Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve would have very likely been home to dogs and humans alike.

How did dogs become dogs?

The process of how wolves were domesticated into the dogs we see today is still a mystery. At some point about 30,000 years ago (plus or minus 10,000 years), wolves and dogs genetically diverged from one another. Dogs at this time would still have looked much like the modern wolf, but humans were quick to breed dogs for features that suited their purposes. Cultures around the world domesticated dogs for their own needs, from livestock guards to canines used for wool.

Dogs, before they became dogs, would have originally been attracted to the discarded food of humans. Over time, humans from whom the dogs were scavenging realised they could be useful, and so the bond between human and dog began to form. After a certain point, dogs would follow humans wherever they went, undergoing a change in behaviour that would ultimately lead to domestication.

Dogs in the modern day are considered 'man’s best friend'; loyal companions and lifelong pets for many people across the world. However, working canines also hold an important place in modern society. Dogs today can be trained to assist those in need, herd livestock, sniff out dangerous substances, and even assist in conservation efforts. Humans today have a very close and expansive relationship with dogs, but how has this changed over the last 10,000 years?

A young couple sitting amongst purple heather with their black, white and tan collie-cross dog

Image by Tom Marshall

Dogs in the Mesolithic era

In the few studies that have been done on Mesolithic canines, evidence has been found showing a range of different 'uses' for dogs. They certainly would have been used in hunting activities, as well as providing protection and companionship. However, the way in which dogs’ remains were disposed of shows a range of different attitudes. Dogs have been found buried in their own grave, with valuables alongside them. In addition, they have been found alongside humans, suggesting a close relationship, and disposed of by waterways, suggesting little-to-no-attachment. As in the modern day, dogs clearly played a range of roles in the lives of Mesolithic people.

Humans clearly had a huge impact on the way dogs became engrained in our society, but dogs in turn made their own changes to how humans interacted with the world. As humans and canines began to live side by side, their lives changed and evolved. For example, if a dog had particular hunting abilities, Mesolithic people may be more likely to live in places where their dog could provide food. If a group of people had reliable guard dogs, they would have to worry less about other predators. The places where people lived, the way they travelled, and the tools and food they needed would have all been impacted by the relationship Mesolithic humans had with dogs. The very lives and identities of Mesolithic people were shaped by canine companions, and thus the lives of people today.

A Lancashire Wildlife Trust Reserve Officer and their sheepdog herding conservation grazing sheep on a nature reserve

Conservation Grazing Officer, Sian, and her dog, Roo, herding our conservation grazing sheep

Dogs at Lunt Meadows today

Just like in Mesolithic times, the dogs seen around Lunt Meadows today are there to fulfil a variety of roles. The nature reserve is very popular with dog walkers, to whom their furry friends may be a companion, an assistance dog, or a boost to physical and mental health. Lunt Meadows welcomes responsible dog walkers who exemplify the relationship that humans have with dogs today: enjoying the companionship of their canine friends while allowing other visitors to enjoy the reserve too. This means keeping dogs on leads so that the rare and endangered birds at home at Lunt today aren’t prey to our wolf-descended friends.

We know a lot of our visitors at Lunt Meadows consider their dogs a part of the family, and working dogs have their own place in the Wildlife Trust too. Grazing animals are often used in conservation work - our Merseyside Grazing Officer, Mike, takes his sheepdog Bea to help him manage the livestock which help keep our reserves in check. With a few instructions from Mike, Bea can direct sheep and cows into areas where they need to go, whether they’re being sheared or moving location. Sheepdogs like Bea can save masses of time and energy by working alongside humans in conservation.

A black labrador wearing an orange harness indicating into a patch of heather as its handler follows behind

Conservation detection dog at work, by Kyrus Ltd.

Another incredible contribution our canine friends make to Lancashire Wildlife Trust is by detecting red squirrels. As we all know, the red squirrel population is in drastic decline, partially because of the spread of the squirrel pox virus. After they die, diseased squirrels can still pass the illness on to live animals, so it’s vital that deceased squirrels are removed as quickly as possible. Enter conservation dogs! Trained to sniff out dead squirrels, conservation dogs can dramatically reduce the amount of time taken to find and remove these dangerous sources of disease. What would have taken hours of volunteer time, a conservation dog can do in minutes.

As we continue to unearth the history of Lunt Meadows, we learn more about the lives of Mesolithic people. This is only possible through the partnership of Lancashire Wildlife Trust, The Museum of Liverpool, the University of Chester, and Crosby Soroptimist International, who work to improve conservation and education at Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve on the Mesolithic and Modern Life Project. Thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we can continue to explore the lives of the people who lived on Lunt Meadows 9,000 years ago.

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