New research confirms precolonial lineage of an extinct breed of dog, once kept for their wool

Newly published research by a large, international research team including several members of the Palaeobarn team (Audrey T. Lin, Sophy Charlton, David Stanton, Greger Larson and Laurent Frantz) has analysed the remains of "Mutton" - an extinct breed of woolly dog once bred for its pelt. Their findings provide insight into the dog’s ancestry revealing the precolonial and careful long-term management of this breed by the Coast Salish people.

Read more in these press articles:

In The Conversation: Mutton, an Indigenous woolly dog, died in 1859 − new analysis confirms precolonial lineage of this extinct breed, once kept for their wool

In The Washington Post: Extinct woolly dog was carefully bred for weaving, ancient DNA confirms

The press release by The Smithsonian - Researchers, Coast Salish People Analyze 160-Year-Old Indigenous Dog Pelt in the Smithsonian’s Collection