Ancient Dingo Received Offerings for Centuries

Why this is here: People continued to add shells to the dingo’s grave for hundreds of years after his burial, mirroring practices reserved for human ancestors.

Archaeologists in western New South Wales, Australia, excavated the 963 to 916-year-old remains of a male dingo near the Baaka/Darling River. Barkindji Elder Uncle Badger Bates and archaeologist Dan Witter first noted the exposed skeleton eroding from a riverside midden. Researchers determined the dingo, called garli in the Barkindji language, was roughly 4 to 7 years old—an advanced age for a wild dingo.

His worn teeth suggest he ate scraps and bones around human camps. He also bore healed fractures in three ribs and his fibula, indicating possible care after injury. The burial site contained freshwater mussel shells, and people continued adding shells to the grave for centuries after the dingo’s death.

Barkindji Elders share stories of a close relationship between people and dingoes, and they recognize the shell additions as a “feeding” ritual for an ancestor. While the dingo’s exact role in the community remains unknown, the continued offerings reveal deep respect. The study blends archaeological findings with traditional knowledge, offering new insight into this ancient bond.