Pigeons: Ancient Companions or Urban Pests?
May 20, 2026 at 23:00
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✦ AI Summary
- Pigeon bones from Cyprus reveal early domestication
- Evidence dates back to around 1400 BCE, reshaping history
- The findings challenge current views on pigeons as pests
Recent discoveries of pigeon bones from the Late Bronze Age site of Hala Sultan Tekke in Cyprus suggest that these birds were semi-domesticated as early as circa 1400 BCE. This revelation pushes back the timeline for the domestication of pigeons by nearly 1,000 years, providing significant insight into their historical relationship with humans.
These findings challenge the long-standing perception of pigeons merely as opportunistic urban pests, highlighting their potential role as companions in ancient societies.
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