Dog Days Celebrated at Special Seminar

Can a dog sing? When does a wolf become a domesticated dog? Did the West Coast once have distinctive dog breeds? The answers to these and other canine questions will be found at "A World of Dogs: Their Archaeological History," a public seminar on August 23 at 1 p.m. at the University Centre Farquhar Auditorium. The event is a special public lecture session of the 8th Congress of the International Council for Archaeozoology being held at UVic Aug. 23 to 29.

The presenters are scholars who will also report on their research at the Congress, but their presentations at the "World of Dogs" are intended for a general audience. However, the program is unlikely to appeal to children under 12 and dogs themselves are not invited.

One dog that will be allowed on-stage is a New Guinea Singing Dog. This living example of a primitive breed who can warble enthusiastically will accompany Jan Koler, a dedicated dog breeder from the New Guinea Singing Dog Club of America. Dr. Eitan Tchernov, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, will discuss the process of domestication and Victoria zoologist Susan Crockford will describe how archaeological evidence indicates West Coast indigenous people raised a distinctive breed of dog for its fur, which they sheared like sheep.

Other presenters will describe an archeological study of a 2,000-year-old dog cemetery in Israel, the dogs of western Siberia, and prehistoric dogs of Japan. A raffle will be held for several prizes including a framed copy of a specially commissioned limited edition dog print by Nuu-chah-nulth artist Tim Paul. Admission to the four-hour seminar is $10. Advance tickets are available through the MacPherson Box Office at 250-386-6121. The University Centre box office will also sell tickets starting two hours before the event on a cash only basis. Proceeds from the seminar will be used to assist several foreign researchers without financial support to attend this symposium.

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