A new study claims dogs haven't really been around as long as previously thought.

The remains of an ancient dog dating back 31,680 years apparently belonged to a wolf. This means the emergence of modern dogs occurred some 15,000 years later.

To reach this conclusion, the study reclassified two fossilized skulls. One belongs to a 30,000 year old dog that was previously used for dating dog domestication in modern times.

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Using a 3D computer simulation, researchers further studied the 31,680 year old fossil uncovered from the Goyet Cave in Belgium, along with a 13,905 old fossil discovered from Eliseevichi site near Lake Baikal in Russia.

Scientists has been trying to pinpoint when the earliest domesticated dog appeared in history, according to study co-author Abby Drake from Skidmore College in New York. Previous studies, however, weren't sensitive enough to determine with accuracy the identity of these dog fossils.

Using this new method in 3D technology allowed researchers to identify the not so obvious morphological differences between dogs and wolves such as the eye cavity direction and the angle between the muzzle and the forehead.

Drake claims this new study proves a newer and more accurate technique that can determine if the fossil is indeed a wolf or a dog. She also says this new method identified the fossils with a 96 percent accuracy.

Scientists believe dog domestication began when ancient wolves discovered waste dumps and began scavenging for food in human settlements. The modern dog derived from the wolf anywhere between 7,000 to 30,000 years ago.

The first various dog breeds were only introduced some 200 years ago during which breed classifications were identified, says Drake. Dogs were the first animals domesticated by man. The dog has played a pivotal part in the development of modern human societies.

This study was published in the journal, Scientific Reports.

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