Have you ever wanted to have a pet fox? Apparently some Argentinian over 2500 years ago did!
Over a decade ago in Loma de los muertos("Dead's hill" I think), earthworks discovered an ancient cemetery. One of the graves was unique, because it contained remains of Dusicyon Avus an extinct wolf or fox.
Animal remains are not that uncommon in human graves, usually as an offering for gods or status symbol of the dead( for example cat mummies or lifestock sacrifice). However, this one was buried in a separate grave, without any traces of disturbing the body. This indicates the fox's status equal to that of human, so it was propably taken as pet by hunter-garterers from region.
What is interesting is that the culture of the native inhabitants of the region puts people and animals as almost equal. This certainly contributed to the recognition of this fox as part of society/family.
Shotened version of: https://sci-hub.st/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/abs/crossing-the-boundary-between-humans-and-animals-the-extinct-fox-dusicyon-avus-from-a-huntergatherer-mortuary-context-in-patagonia-argentina/40DDD890808D0958A4753FA939CA968B















