Flat-faced dogs like pugs, bulldogs, and Frenchies are often thought of as a distinctly modern obsession, but new research from an ancient Roman site tells a very different story. A recently analyzed canine skull from the ruins of Tralleis in modern-day Turkey suggests that people living more than 2,000 years ago were already selectively breeding small brachycephalic dogs that looked strikingly similar to today’s French bulldogs. For anyone interested in dog evolution, ancient Rome, or the history of pet keeping, this discovery of an ancient bulldog-like dog is quietly remarkable.
The skull was originally unearthed in 2007 at a Roman-era site in Tralleis, a city that once thrived in what is now Aydın, Turkey. At first, the remains were in such poor condition that they attracted little attention. Many fragments were damaged, and it was not immediately clear what kind of animal the skull had belonged to. That initial neglect changed in 2021, when a team of researchers took a closer look and realized there might be something unusual hidden in the worn bone.
The new analysis was led by Aleksander Chrószcz and Dominik Poradowski from the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, working together with Vedat Onar from Istanbul University. They recognized that even a damaged skull can preserve important clues about an animal’s appearance and ancestry. Chrószcz explained that although parts of the skull were too fragmented to measure in full, enough remained intact to allow a detailed scientific examination known as craniometry, which focuses on the measurement and comparison of skull features.
Using craniometry, the team compared the Tralleis skull to measurements taken from modern dog breeds. The poor preservation meant they could not reliably determine the skull’s total length, yet other critical features were still available. Researchers measured the base of the skull, the tympanic cavity related to the middle ear, the teeth, and the palate. These areas helped them reconstruct approximate proportions and identify the animal’s cranial type.
The results were clear. According to Chrószcz, there was no doubt that this was the skull of a brachycephalic dog, a short-nosed animal with a distinctive flattened face. It was also relatively small in size. When they compared it with skulls from contemporary breeds, the closest resemblance was to a small French bulldog type dog. In other words, people living in Roman-era Tralleis may have kept companions that looked much like the flat-faced pets many households know today.
To confirm the age of the specimen, the team turned to radiocarbon dating. This method measures the decay of carbon isotopes in organic material to estimate how long ago an organism died. The results placed the dog’s life between 169 B.C.E. and 8 C.E. That time span stretches across the late Republican and early Imperial periods of Rome, long before the emergence of most modern dog breeds, which typically date to the 18th century or later. The Tralleis dog is therefore not only ancient; it also predates the formalized breed standards that define the modern canine world.
According to the researchers, this skull is only the second known example of a flat-faced dog from the Roman age. The other specimen came from the famous ruins of Pompeii. Two finds may sound modest, yet they are enough to suggest that Roman breeders were already experimenting with brachycephalic traits and that such dogs, while rare, were present in at least some communities. The fact that both examples are associated with notable Roman-era sites strengthens the case for a deliberate, rather than accidental, emergence of this type of dog.
In their study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, the researchers describe the Tralleis specimen as a “pet-like dog” that resembled the small French bulldog type. They propose that the specific look of this animal had a direct connection to Roman tastes and preferences. Roman families in Tralleis may have intentionally selected for compact size and a shortened snout because they found these traits appealing, fashionable, or well suited to life as a companion inside the home.
There is historical context to support this idea. Ancient Greek and Roman elites are known to have valued distinctive dog types, particularly those associated with hunting, guarding, or prestige. According to the researchers, wealthy Romans would pay significant sums for dogs that matched specific ideals of form and function. Over time, this desire for specialized animals appears to have encouraged deliberate breeding practices. They note that Romans are considered among the first people to systematically breed dogs, documenting different types and paying attention to how selection could shape appearance, ability, and behavior.
The Tralleis skull also fits into a broader pattern visible in the archaeological record. When scientists compare ancient skulls of domesticated animals like cattle and pigs to their wild relatives, they see recognizable differences, but not the dramatic variety that characterizes dogs. Dog skulls from different time periods and regions exhibit extraordinary diversity, from long, narrow muzzles to extremely compact, rounded faces. The wide range in dog cranial types supports the idea that humans have been actively shaping dogs’ bodies and roles for thousands of years.
Beyond what it reveals about early dog breeding, the Tralleis find offers a glimpse into the emotional world of the people who lived alongside this animal. The dog was not discarded after death. Instead, it was buried in a tomb, which strongly suggests that it belonged to someone who cared for it deeply. The researchers write that the dog was likely a beloved companion, possibly considered important enough that its owner requested to be buried with it. The phrasing “someone must have loved this dog” captures the sense of quiet intimacy preserved in the archaeological record.
I found this detail particularly striking because it narrows the distance between modern pet-keeping households and an ancient Roman family. The skull’s flat face and small stature may have been the product of breeding choices, yet the burial hints at a bond that goes far beyond physical traits. The people who laid this dog to rest appear to have viewed it not as a tool or commodity but as a close companion, echoing the way many people regard their dogs today.
In the end, the Tralleis dog bridges a long span of time with a single, recognizable profile. It suggests that the preference for small, brachycephalic dogs is not simply a recent fashion but has roots going back more than two millennia. It also highlights how scientific techniques such as craniometry and radiocarbon dating can transform overlooked fragments into meaningful stories about the shared history of humans and animals. From a fractured skull in ancient ruins, researchers have uncovered evidence of early dog breeding, Roman taste in pets, and a relationship between person and animal that feels startlingly familiar.
