An archaeological dig at an early Roman port city on the coast of the Red Sea in Egypt called Berenice has unearthed what is believed to be the earliest known cemetery for domestic pets (mostly cats and dogs but also monkeys).

According to an article on the discovery in Science, the burials took place around 2,000 years ago and the total number of dogs and cats is estimated to be around 600.

The team discovered the graveyard just outside the city walls, beneath a later Roman era trash dump.  The cemetery dated from a time when Berenice was a thriving port that traded in luxury goods from all over the world.

The remains of the animals showed signs that they were treated as beloved pets.  They were laid carefully in excavated pits and often covered in textiles or pieces of pottery that enclosed the bodies.

There were many more cats than dogs found at the site.  Several of the cats were wearing necklaces made of metal, glass, or shell.  One of the cats was laid on a large bird’s wing.

The remains showed no signs of sacrifice, mummification, or other rituals, suggesting that they were pets that died from injury, disease, or old age.

Many of the pets showed signs of advanced age, such as joint degeneration and tooth loss.

As one of the archaeozoologists on the team noted, “We have individuals who have very limited mobility. Yet many lived long lives and their injuries healed. Such animals had to be fed to survive,” she says, “sometimes with special foods in the case of the almost-toothless animals.”

The team concluded that the owners had close bonds with their pets, just like modern pet owners.  One of the archaeologists noted that they had never seen a cat with a collar from such a long time ago.

While some of the cats could have been used for rodent control and the larger dogs for guarding and hunting, there were also smaller dogs found at the site, most likely lap dogs that were strictly companion animals.

The researchers say that discoveries like this are important to increase our understanding of ancient peoples and the role of pets in their lives.

Dig photo: S. E. Sidebotham/Berenike Project, PCMA UW