Early Taming of the Cat in Cyprus

摘要

It is generally accepted that cats were first domesticated in ancient Egypt, at the latest by the 20th to 19th century B.C. (Middle Kingdom, 12th dynasty). However, several finds from Cyprus suggest that the origins of cat taming were earlier. A cat mandible at the early Neolithic site of Khirokitia, Cyprus, and, more recently, from several other sites, show that cats were present on the island start-ing from ～9500 years ago. Cyprus has remained separated from the mainland by at least 60 to 80 km since its formation. There is no evidence of any native felid species. Thus, the finds of cat remains are evidence of human introduction. This is not clear evidence of taming, however, because Late Me-solithic or Neolithic societies introduced wild animals to several other islands, and the fox was also introduced to Cyprus at about that time. We have now found a cat buried in association with a human from the site of Shillourokambos, demonstrating that a close relation had developed ～9500 years ago.