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Health & Science2h 2m ago

New research published recently has revealed that pigeons were first domesticated 3,500 years ago, nearly a millennium longer than previously thought.

Larnaca salt lake, southeast Cyprus; University of Groningen, Netherlands; Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research

Who
Anderson Carter, Canan Cakirlar, a Dutch-led team of scientists
What
New research published recently has revealed that pigeons were first domesticated 3,500 years ago, nearly a millennium longer than previously thought.
When
Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:00:00 GMT · 2h 2m ago
Where
Larnaca salt lake, southeast Cyprus; University of Groningen, Netherlands; Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research ·
Why
Scientists analyzed 159 ancient pigeon bones from the Hala Sultan Tekke archaeological site to understand their lives, deaths, and signs of human intervention.
The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

This discovery changes the understanding of the long-standing relationship between humans and pigeons, highlighting their historical importance beyond their modern 'pest' perception. It suggests pigeon domestication occurred much earlier, showing a deeper intertwined history.

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