Ancient Roman letters found at pet cemetery in Egypt: photos | Miami Herald

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Ancient Roman letters unearthed from 1,800-year-old pet cemetery in Egypt. See them

By Aspen Pflughoeft

May 24, 2024 1:00 PM

Archaeologists excavating a 1,800-year-old pet cemetery in Berenike uncovered the writings of soldiers and other artifacts, photos show. Photo from M. Osypińska via Institute of Archaeology of the University of Wrocław

Digging into the sand of southern Egypt, archaeologists expected to find glimpses of ancient Roman life. But what they uncovered — from a collection of letters to several burials of pet monkeys — left them stunned.

Marta Osypińska led a team of archaeologists to excavate an untouched section of a unique ancient Roman cemetery in Berenike, Science in Poland said in a May 22 news release. The site was used as an animal burial ground between 1 A.D. and 200 A.D.

During their excavation, archaeologists found over 200 burials of pet monkeys, dogs and cats, the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Wrocław said in a news release. The pets likely belonged to elite ancient Romans who lived in Berenike.

An archaeologist stands at the partially excavated pet cemetery. Photo from M. Osypińska via Institute of Archaeology of the University of Wrocław

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Monkey burials were particularly numerous and mimicked human burials, archaeologists said. The ancient monkeys were usually buried with collars, harnesses, toys and/or their own pet, typically a kitten but sometimes a piglet. No other types of animals were buried as lavishly.

The team's previous work identified the monkeys as two macaques species from the Indian subcontinent, the institute said. This analysis suggests elite ancient Roman imported monkeys as exotic pets.

Scattered between the animal burials, archaeologists found another unexpected discovery: ancient Roman writings on pottery fragments and papyrus. The writings were pieced together and identified as the letters of Roman soldiers.

An ancient Roman ostracon, or pottery fragment used for writing, found at the cemetery. Photo from K. Braulińska via Science in Poland

The letters include the names of three ancient Roman soldiers: Haosus, Lucinius and Petronius, Osypińska told Science in Poland.

"In the correspondence, Petronius asks Lucinius (stationed in Berenice Troglodytica) about the prices of individual exclusive goods," Osypińska said in the release, according to a translation from Heritage Daily.

"There is also the statement: 'I am giving you the money, I am sending it by dromedarius (a unit of legionnaires moving on dromedaries). Take care of them, provide them with veal and poles for their tents,'" Osypińska said, per Heritage Daily.

An animal burial, possibly of a monkey, found at the ancient Roman cemetery. Photo from M. Osypińska via Institute of Archaeology of the University of Wrocław

The letters likely came from a Roman soldier's office near the 1,800-year-old cemetery, archaeologists said. Over time, the office was destroyed and its contents accidentally spread across the animal cemetery.

Osypińska told Science in Poland that the letters are a phenomenal and extremely rare discovery.

Archaeologists have speculated about the presence of ancient Roman soldiers in Berenike but lacked direct evidence — until now, the department said.

The recent excavation began in December and ended in February, the institute said. Archaeologists hope to continue excavations in the future.

Berenike, also known as Berenice Troglodytica, is along the coast of the Red Sea and a roughly 550-mile drive southeast of Cairo.

Google Translate was used to translate the news releases from Science in Poland and the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Wrocław.

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