Look: A mysterious Bronze Age animal reveals an evolutionary first

We can learn a lot about the first urban societies by the intricate artifacts they left behind. Like those from the Mesopotamian Bronze Age.

The Standard of Ur, which was crafted by ancient Sumerians, shows scenes of war and peace.

Wagons and weapons abound, with animals towing people along.

A study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances clears up the kungas’ genetic roots — revealing they were actually a hybrid species.

They were able to link the kunga to parents from two different species.

On the maternal side was the donkey, Equus africanus asinus.

On the paternal side was the Syrian wild ass, Equus hemionus hemippus, sometimes called a hemippe.

The new understanding of the kunga’s genetic makeup means these creatures are the earliest-known example of humans intentionally crossbreeding species.

In Bronze Age society, kungas were highly valued, costing up to six times as much as an ordinary donkey — and were likely bred for battle.

Questions remain about how widespread crossbreeding and domestication were throughout Mesopotamia at the time.

But it’s clear that owning a kunga was a status symbol.