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Story summary
- A genome study indicates that domestic cats were introduced to Europe from North Africa approximately 2,000 years ago during the Roman Empire.
- Researchers from the University of Rome Tor Vergata analyzed 225 feline bones from 97 archaeological sites, generating 70 ancient genomes.
- The study reveals that the earliest European cats were wild, challenging the belief that domestication began 6,000 to 7,000 years ago.
- It identifies two significant introductions: one to Sardinia around 2,200 years ago and another 200 years later, which contributed to the genetic foundation of modern domestic cats.
