El gato doméstico llegó a Europa miles de años más tarde de lo que se pensaba

El gato doméstico llegó a Europa miles de años más tarde de lo que se pensaba A recent genetic study analyzing nuclear DNA from cats in Europe and North Africa indicates that domestic cats arrived in Europe approximately 2,000 years ago from North Africa, largely facilitated by the Roman Empire. This challenges the long-held belief that cats accompanied Neolithic farmers from the Near East. The research identified two main waves of African wildcats entering Europe, with a significant expansion of domestic cats occurring during Roman times along their trade and military routes.

• Domestic cats arrived in Europe about 2,000 years ago from North Africa, primarily through the Roman Empire.
• This contradicts the previous belief that cats arrived with Neolithic farmers from the Near East.
• The study analyzed nuclear DNA from 70 cats from European and Anatolian sites and 17 modern wildcats from Europe and North Africa.
• Two main waves of African wildcat arrival in Europe were identified: one in Sardinia during the first millennium BC and a decisive one during the Roman era.
• Roman expansion spread domestic cats along their routes throughout the Mediterranean, Central Europe, and Britain starting in the 1st century BC.
• Genetic hybridization between domestic and wild lineages was limited in Roman times but intensified during the Middle Ages.
• Previous theories were supported by findings like a 7500 BC human-cat burial in Cyprus and later Egyptian art and animal burials suggesting early domestication in the Near East and Egypt.