Guinea pigs were domesticated about 3000-6000 years ago, probably from wild guinea pigs (Cavia aperea).
How did the guinea pigs turn out
The domestic guinea pigs we know are the result of crossing several wild species.
They differ from wild rodents by the absence of a tail. This is one of the first domesticated animals: due to its unpretentiousness and fertility.
Why were guinea pigs domesticated
Beginning in the 14th century, the Inca peoples living on the slopes of the Andes were the first to domesticate the guinea pig.
Now this territory is Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador.
The Incas used pigs as a source of tasty dietary meat.
How guinea pigs spread around the world
They were brought to Europe by the Spanish in the mid-16th century.
Wild guinea pigs are commonly found in South America and inhabit savannah, bushland and Andean mountain regions.
Polish archaeologists discovered during excavations at Ojców Castle, located near Krakow, a fragment of the lower jaw of a guinea pig (Cavia porcelus).
The context of this find and the results of radiocarbon dating indicated that this pet lived in the 16th or 17th century.
