A team of Russian tusk hunters set out into the Siberia permafrost a year ago to dig for Stone Age mammoth ivory. Instead they made a discovery that may clarify the origins of the domestic dog — a preserved “puppy” that had lain undisturbed in the ice for about 18,000 years.

The prehistoric canine was about two months old when it died and still has whiskers, eyelashes and a velvety nose.

The puppy still has fur, whiskers and milk teeth SERGEY FEDOROV/THE SIBERIAN TIMES

Scientists are mapping its DNA to establish whether it is the oldest dog found, a wolf or something in between. A first round of genetic testing was unable to determine its species.

Love Dalén, from the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm, which carried out the analysis, said: “Normally one would be able