Swedish archaeologists found a 5,000-year-old dog skeleton with a bone dagger in a Neolithic bog, suggesting ritual burial.

Archaeologists in Sweden discovered a well-preserved 5,000-year-old dog skeleton near Järna, buried with a finely polished bone dagger in a Neolithic bog. The large male dog, aged 3 to 6, was placed in a lake with stones, likely as part of a ritual. The site, now a bog, preserved the remains due to waterlogged conditions. The dog’s skull was crushed at death, not during burial. The find, rare for the era, offers new insights into early human-animal relationships and prehistoric rituals.