1,200-Year-Old Hairless Dog Discovery in Peru

Archaeologists discovered 1,200-year-old remains of hairless dogs at Castillo de Huarmey, an ancient Wari Empire administrative and funerary complex located approximately 190 miles north of Lima, Peru. Published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology on March 31, 2026, the study led by Weronika Tomczyk from Dartmouth College provides the first direct physical evidence of Peruvian hairless dogs at a Wari site active between 600 and 1050 CE. The research team analyzed 341 dog bone specimens representing at least 19 individuals, alongside a naturally mummified male dog coated with cinnabar pigment and an anthropomorphic ceramic vessel shaped like a seated hairless dog. Dental anomalies, specifically the absence of first premolars and last molars linked to the gene responsible for hairlessness, confirmed the identification of the Peruvian hairless dog breed, aligning with historical depictions in ancient Andean pottery and the modern Peruvian Inca orchid breed. Isotopic analyses of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and strontium isotopes in bones and teeth revealed that these dogs shared dietary staples like maize with humans, while young hairless puppies exhibited distinct dietary patterns comparable to children. The findings demonstrate complex human-animal relationships where dogs received special funerary treatment, such as burial with elite figures including the Master Basketmaker, contrasting with other animal remains discarded as refuse. This discovery advances archaeological understanding of Pre-Hispanic animal husbandry, breeding practices, and cultural symbolism in the Andes. Researchers emphasize that ancient populations held nuanced, sometimes contradictory attitudes toward companion species, utilizing advanced zooarchaeological and scientific methods to reconstruct historical bonds that transcend simple categorization.