Archaeologists have found the remains of a Peruvian hairless dog breed that dates back about 1,300 years, shedding new light on the function of dogs in ancient Andean societies.
Now acknowledged as a component of Peru’s cultural patrimony, the breed seems to have been treated with special reverence, as puppies apparently got fed in a way that resembles children.
Excavations at Castillo de Huarmey began in 2010 under the direction of Professor Miłosz Giersz from the University of Warsaw. Archaeologists uncovered a royal mausoleum containing richly furnished elite burials, alongside a wide range of artefacts including textiles, ceramics, ornaments, and animal remains.
Among the finds were the remains of at least twenty dogs, including adult animals and puppies only a few weeks old. Some skeletons were partially preserved, while others had naturally mummified.
An international research team from Dartmouth College, the University of Warsaw, and the University of Pittsburgh combined traditional zooarchaeological analysis with isotope studies to investigate the dogs’ diet, mobility, and origins. Their findings were published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology.
The results suggest that dogs at Castillo de Huarmey occupied a variety of roles. Some lived closely alongside humans and were carefully cared for, while others may have assisted with llama herding or accompanied trade caravans. Others likely survived as scavengers feeding on waste around settlements.
Researchers also identified remains believed to belong to the Peruvian hairless dog, with the oldest examples dating between 688 and 870 AD.
“This unusual breed, known for its almost complete lack of fur, is now considered part of Peru’s cultural heritage. Hairless dogs were depicted on ceramics about two thousand years ago,” said the study’s lead author, Dr Weronika Tomczyk of Dartmouth College.
The breed was identified through a genetic mutation associated with hairlessness and missing teeth, a distinctive dental pattern found in several of the dogs from Castillo de Huarmey. Microscopic analysis of preserved skin fragments from a naturally mummified specimen confirmed that the animal had very little hair.
Isotope analysis further revealed that young hairless dogs consumed diets similar to those of children, indicating they may have been given special attention and care. In Andean belief systems, hairless dogs were also associated with medicinal properties, with their body warmth thought to relieve pain and illness.
Not all of the dogs, however, appear to have been household companions. Some likely lived near human communities, feeding on discarded food and refuse.
Most of the dogs consumed diets broadly similar to those of humans, including large amounts of maize or animals raised on maize feed. Elevated nitrogen levels also suggest they ate significant quantities of animal protein, possibly from fish or meat scraps.
One dog stood out for having a diet more comparable to that of llamas and alpacas. Researchers speculate that the animal may have travelled with herds during seasonal migrations or accompanied trade caravans, potentially serving as a guard or lookout against predators.
Several dogs were also buried alongside humans. One puppy was interred beside a highly regarded craftsman, another near the grave of a man believed to have guarded the mausoleum, while an adult dog was buried with a teenage child. Researchers believe these placements were deliberate and symbolic.
“Such discoveries suggest that dogs may have played a symbolic and ritual role,” said Dr Tomczyk. “In Andean cultures, there was a belief that dogs helped guide the souls of the deceased into the afterlife. Black dogs in particular were seen as mediators between the world of the living and the world of the dead.”
The findings provide a rare glimpse into the close and complex relationship between humans and dogs in the ancient Andes, highlighting both their practical and spiritual importance within Wari society.
Header Image Credit : Prof. Miłosz Giersz/ University of Warsaw
Sources : PAP
