Excerpt from René L. Vellanoweth, et al., “A Double Dog Burial from San Nicolas Island, California, USA: Osteology, Context, and Significance.” Journal of Archaeological Science 35, no. 12 (2008): 3115, 3122
The visceral and rectal areas of Dog B contained only burned and unburned fish bones. That some of the stomach contents contained burned fish bone suggests these dogs ate the discarded remains of human food refuse, perhaps from direct scavenging of food refuse piles [middens], offal scavenging, or direct and deliberate feeding by humans….
On the Channel Islands, dogs likely played an important role in helping humans hunt seals, sea lions, and birds and perhaps even assisted in fishing activities, having a direct impact on island plant and animal communities.
Last updated: November 21, 2016