Ancient Cats: First Domesticated in Cyprus

Ancient Cat Companions in Cyprus

While ancient Egypt is often credited as the birthplace of cat domestication, archaeological evidence suggests the process may have started much earlier on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Findings from the early Neolithic village of Shillourokambos point to a close relationship between humans and cats dating back 9,500 years, shedding new light on the origins of the bond between people and felines that continues to this day.

Cyprus is an island that has remained separated from mainland Asia Minor and the Levant since its geological formation. No native cat species are known to have ever inhabited the island before humans settled there in the Neolithic period. This means that any cat remains found in archaeological sites must have been deliberately introduced to the island by people.

The earliest evidence of cats on Cyprus dates to around 9500 years ago [1]. Cat bones, including a mandible, have been found at several early Neolithic sites like Khirokitia. While these finds demonstrate the presence of cats, they don't necessarily indicate the animals had been tamed or domesticated. After all, Neolithic societies introduced some wild animals to other Mediterranean islands as well, like foxes which were also brought to Cyprus around the same time.

However, a remarkable discovery at Shillourokambos provides compelling evidence that cats and humans had developed a close relationship by the 9th millennium BC. Archaeologists unearthed a cat skeleton intentionally buried just 40cm away from a human grave. The burial practices and close proximity strongly suggest an emotional bond between the person and feline.

The human grave contained rich offerings like polished stone axes, ochre, and flint tools, implying the individual likely held an esteemed social status in the village. A small pit with 24 seashells was also associated with the burial. Meanwhile, the cat's skeleton was found to be from an 8-month-old Felis silvestris, the wildcat species native to the Middle East and North Africa. It was buried intact in a deliberately dug pit, with no signs of butchering, and covered soon after.

This careful, intentional burial of the cat as an individual, in such close association with the human grave, reveals cats held a special status in this early Neolithic community. If the cat had died naturally and was left unburied, its bones would have become scattered and disarticulated. Instead, the burial evokes the same practices used for humans and suggests a profound connection between the deceased person and feline. It's even possible the cat was sacrificed in order to be united with its human companion in death.

Shillourokambos is not the only Neolithic site with clues pointing to the spiritual significance of cats. Feline figurines carved from stone or modeled in clay have been found at contemporaneous sites in the Levant, including one from an earlier period at Shillourokambos itself. This implies the special status of cats in these early agricultural societies was not just a local phenomenon in Cyprus.

So what prompted the initial taming of wildcats? A likely explanation lies in the rise of agriculture and grain storage during the Neolithic revolution. As farming villages stored their harvest, the surplus grain would have attracted large mice and rat populations. This pattern has been identified in Neolithic sites in both the Middle East and Cyprus. Cats may have naturally preyed on the rodents and been encouraged by humans to stick around the villages.

Over time, a mutually beneficial relationship could have developed, with cats serving as pest control and being rewarded with food scraps and a safe place to live. Gradually, the most docile and tolerant cats would have grown more accustomed to living alongside humans, setting the stage for true domestication. This is similar to the proposed model for cat domestication in ancient Egypt, where felines are depicted in opposition to rodents as early as 4000 years ago.

The findings from Cyprus add a fascinating new chapter to the story of cat domestication. While the ancient Egyptians undoubtedly played a key role in molding the modern domestic cat through selective breeding, the special status of cats and their close relationship with humans evidently started much earlier. The 9,500-year-old joint burial at Shillourokambos is a poignant glimpse into the Neolithic origins of the human-cat bond.

It's a connection that transformed both species and continues to enrich our lives to the present day. Domestic cats are now one of the most popular pets worldwide, with an estimated 600 million living in households. At the same time, cats have spread to every continent except Antarctica, becoming one of the most ubiquitous carnivores on Earth. This global success was made possible by the symbiotic relationship forged between cats and humans in places like Neolithic Cyprus.

As we look back at the 9,500 years of history revealed at Shillourokambos, it's clear that our long fascination with felines is here to stay. From those early agricultural villages to the modern cat cafes of Tokyo, the unique bond between humans and cats has already left an indelible mark on our shared story. With domestic cats poised to share our homes and hearths for millennia to come, there will surely be many more chapters yet to unfold.