Elites in Ancient Rome went to great lengths to advertise their status and wealth. Based on recent archaeological excavations in Egypt, at least some high-ranking military officials even boasted about their choice of pets. IN Journal of Roman ArcheologyResearchers from Poland's University of Warsaw have described an almost 2,000-year-old animal cemetery in the Egyptian port city of Berenike that contains the remains of many animals. macaque monkeys. Moreover, the monkeys themselves may have their own animal companions.
Since its discovery in 2011, archaeologists have been excavating the cemetery near the center of Berenike. Experts have documented about 800 animal graves, but many are atypical. pets like cats and dogs. In at least 36 cases the bones belong to Indian rhesus monkeys (Mulatto macaque). Although archaeologists have previously documented several similar examples of ancient Roman domestic monkeys elsewhere, they are genetically traced back to Barbary macaques in Africa.
“The burials of monkeys of this species at Berenice provide the first unequivocal evidence of the organized importation of non-human primates from overseas,” he said. the study authors explained.
Closer examination revealed that at least some of the domestic primates were not necessarily in the best state of health when they died. The two rhesus macaque skulls showed signs of malnutrition, possibly due to a lack of sufficient vegetables and fruits in the diet. However, this does not mean that the pets were intentionally mistreated. Given the comparative remoteness of Berenike at the time (the port was about 480 miles southeast of Cairo), it is more likely that the monkeys' owners simply did not have reliable access to nutritious food.
In addition to dietary concerns, the Romans tried to care for their pets in other ways. Although only about three percent of cat and dog graves in the cemetery contained accessories, 40 percent monkeys were buried with items such as snacks, collars and iridescent shells. In some cases, the macaques even lay next to kittens and piglets, perhaps the monkeys' own pets, donated by their owners.
PopSci Gift Guide for 2025
