A new skull find in Siberia seems to confirm that the domestication of dogs goes back some 33,000 years. The skull is from a dog of some sort, and scientists are using this, along with another find in Belgium, to conclude that "the domestication of dogs by humans occurred repeatedly throughout early human history at different geographic locations -- rather than at a single domestication event, as previously believed."
By their research they've definitely determined that it's a dog's skull, and not some other related animal, like a wolf. Another discovery is that it "doesn't appear to be an ancestor of modern dogs."
To me this discovery affirms that dogs have been an important part of friendship and companionship with people from the beginning. Any dog lover can tell you why, but if you haven't yet discovered the joys of dog ownership, check out my articles on how dogs help you meet new friends and what you can learn from them when it comes to friendship.