The remains of the oldest pet in the world were found * At an excavation site in Cyprus, a grave of a man and his cat from 9,500 years ago was discovered. The discovery contradicts previous estimates that the Egyptians were the first to domesticate cats
French archaeologists have discovered in Cyprus the remains of a cat, similar to the African wild cat species, and it appears to be the oldest evidence in the world of keeping it as a pet. Finding the remains of the cat together with its owner in a grave from the Neolithic period (Late Stone Age) indicates that cat domestication began as early as 9,500 years ago.
Until recently, the Egyptians were considered the first domesticated cats in history. The first evidence was dated to the period between 1,900 - 2000 BC. The French researchers, writing in the magazine "Science", proved that in fact the process began long before that. The BBC reported that, according to them, the burial in Chilorokambos, a village in Cyprus, represents the first case in the history of the taming of animals by humans.
Professor Jane Goulian from the Center for Anthropology in Toulouse, said that "the form in which the man and the cat were buried is similar to a familiar form of burial of a person and a dog, which was used by the Natufian culture in the Land of Israel in the 11th-12th centuries BC". She said that the person who was next to the cat was about 30 years old when he died, but it is not known what his gender was. He was buried along with objects such as polished stones, axes, stone tools and paints.
The researchers claim that according to the findings, it seems that the person who was buried was of high status, and may have had a special relationship with cats. Also, cats had a religious and material meaning for the inhabitants of Cyprus during the Stone Age. During the period, agriculture began to spread from the Near East, and grain stores attracted mice. It is possible that the humans then preferred to encourage cats to "settle" in the villages in order to neutralize the mice.
It seems that the cat, 8 months old, was killed to be buried next to its owner. No signs of slaughter were found on the skeleton, which suggests that it was handled gently. Remains of charred bones of cats were also found on the site, which show that on certain occasions humans used to eat those walking on all fours.
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