A new genomic study unpacks the long-held mystery regarding where cats were first domesticated with the help of archaeological evidence,disproving prior theories and revealing the true history of domestic cats as they became companions of people.Until now,the history of how and when domestic cats assimilated into different societies was poorly documented,and the information obtained in this study offers a better understanding.

Based on the information gathered,it appears 2000 years ago domestic cats were introduced into Europe.They migrated to Europe from North Africa during the early Roman Empire period.This movement of domestic cats likely occurred as a result of increased trade and shipping throughout the Mediterranean Sea;where domestic cats were utilized as pest control on ships transporting grain from Egypt,to major Roman cities.

According to study lead author Claudio Ottoni of the University of Rome Tor Vergata,"The information we obtained through examining the DNA of archaeological remains from the first century AD shows that domesticated cats only began to increase in numbers in Europe after the start of the Roman Empire"This study was published in the journal Science and used genetic samples from 97 archaeological sites located throughout Europe and the Near East.It involved sequencing 70 genomes from the earliest known feline remains that date back to around 10,000 years ago.

Key findings include:

Cat remains identified from the prehistoric period of Europe refer to only wildcats,with no evidence of domesticated forms.

Three periods of arrival took place with the arrival of wildcats to Sardinia from northwest Africa approximately 2,200 years ago,with the arrival of domesticated cats occurring about two hundred years later from North Africa.

Zooarchaeologists note that cats had multiple independent domestication events in different regions of North Africa,thus it would be impossible to identify one specific location where they became domesticated.

According to co-author Marco De Martino,"Cats were not just biological invasions,but they incorporated themselves into human societies and cultures,economies,and religious beliefs."The timing of these domestication events coincides with an increase in the volume of trade across the Mediterranean,where it is likely that cats assumed additional symbolic and spiritual meanings in addition to their role in pest control.