A 4,000-year-old sun-dried mud brick with preserved dog paw prints was discovered at a Bronze Age site in Turkey, offering a rare glimpse into ancient daily life.
Ancient paw prints discovered in Turkey
Excavations at the Tavşanlı Höyük site in Turkey have uncovered a sun-dried mud brick bearing dog paw prints dated to 4,000 years ago, preserved in the clay before it dried. The discovery was presented by a team led by Professor Erkan Fidan on October 26, 2026. Brick with paw prints used in construction
The builders of the tell mixed earth, water, and straw to mold their sun-dried bricks. They placed them on the ground and let them dry in the sun. A dog crossed the drying area and pressed its paws into the still pliable surface, but the artisans did not discard the damaged block. They incorporated it into the wall of a dwelling, including the paw prints. Fire preserved the paw prints
The house burned, likely during a violent episode that devastated part of the neighborhood. The fire baked the clay, while the collapse covered the wall with rubble. The archaeologists found the block in these ruins, with the marks still clear after four millennia. Archaeologist's long-term research
Erkan Fidan, a professor of archaeology at Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University, has directed the work since 2021. His team has previously unearthed pottery seals, marble and terracotta idols, as well as human remains preserved by carbonisation. The dog paw prints add to this inventory, but in a different register, relating to everyday life rather than trade or ritual.
