The canine connection III: dogs and southern African farmers

Abstract

Dogs have been part of southern African farming communities for well over a millennium. This paper reviews the archaeological evidence for when that association may have begun, raising the possibility that an initial introduction connected to the beginnings of trade along the East African coast may help explain the fact that the earliest secure dates for dogs in the region come from KwaZulu-Natal. Noting the potential role of infectious disease as a constraint on their expansion through tropical Africa and considering whether distinct breeds of indigenous dog can be identified, it then uses ethnographic, historical and archaeological evidence to explore two main themes: the roles played by dogs as hunting aids and guardians and their importance in the social and ideological realm, particularly as a means by which to offer subtle comment on relations between people in a socially tolerated manner. The paper ends by setting out a research agenda for developing a canine archaeology of southern African farming communities, emphasizing the importance of building a robust dataset of remains with identifications confirmed and dated using multiple proxies.