U.S.WEEKEND INTERVIEW

Alaska dig: 'canid' replaces 'dog' as a consultant weighs in

Archaeologists in Alaska found the oldest known dwelling in the Americas beside early canid remains, possibly the earliest domesticated dogs; the word possibly is doing heavy lifting.

On air: Vera Bullock on Weekend Edition
Published 8:06 AM ET, Sunday, October 18, 2026

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Vera Bullock on this story, from Weekend Edition at 8:06 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are cristinaiglesias.com's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance

First reported by cristinaiglesias.com: “13,800-Year-Old Alaskan Settlement Unearths Oldest Known Dwelling and Early Canid Remains in the Americas”.
Covered on BBN on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 8:06 AM ET on Weekend Edition, by Vera Bullock.
Topics: Americas, Alaska.
BBN covered this story before: Husky-doodle LouLou found alive two days after Alaska avalanche (October 18).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

cristinaiglesias.com13,800-Year-Old Alaskan Settlement Unearths Oldest Known Dwelling and Early Canid Remains in the Americas

What BBN said about it

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorNew this morning, the headline on that Alaska dig says early canid remains, and I assume earlier reports said possibly the first dogs.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorWith us is Torvald Nkemelu, who bills four thousand dollars an hour.
Torvald NkemeluFour thousand, yes, though for you today it's thirty-five hundred. The findings are clear. Something was there, and it had four legs.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSo is it a dog or not? I feel like we said possibly three times today, and I want to know where we stand.
Torvald NkemeluNo, and here's why. Canid is a safer word. It covers dog, wolf, and anything that looks at you the way a dog would.
Torvald NkemeluThat insight is forty-five hundred an hour.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorYou said thirty-five hundred a minute ago.
Torvald NkemeluThat was the discount rate, and it expired when I raised the magnifying glass. Back to the findings.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorBut the house is thirteen thousand eight hundred years old, and the canid was found near it. Did anyone say whose dog?
Torvald NkemeluNobody has said that, and I haven't asked.
Torvald NkemeluI'd say the dog was there first, or the house was. Either answer is five thousand an hour.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorHave you been to Alaska?
Torvald NkemeluI have been near it, on a map, and the map was very persuasive. That is billable at six thousand.

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