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Roman military officers stationed in Egypt were kept pet monkey It was imported from India as a symbol of wealth, according to a new study of an ancient animal cemetery containing dozens of macaque carcasses.
Ancient cemetery in Berenice First discovered in 2011 on Egypt’s east coast, researchers have excavated approximately 800 tombs at the site to date.
but one of the most interesting dig Scientists say there were a total of 35 monkeys at one location just outside the urban area of the Egyptian port.
Researchers have now dated the remains of these primates to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD – a time when high-ranking Roman military officers lived in the region.
Analysis of monkey bones revealed that most of the primates were macaques from India, providing the first physical evidence of live animal trade from India to Roman Egypt.
“The Berenike graves of monkeys of this species are the first clear indication of organized importation of non-human primates from across the ocean,” the scientists wrote in the published study. Roman Archaeological Journal.
Archaeologists have also found clues buried with monkeys, indicating that high-ranking Romans used them as pets.
Along with the skeletons of the monkeys, luxury items such as collars, food and iridescent shells were also found.
It appears that some monkeys also had their own pets, such as pigs or kittens, buried with them.
Two of the five monkey burials at the site contained grave goods, while very few burials of cats and dogs were found.
The researchers said this reveals “the special status of these primates among other companion animals.”
He wrote, “Owning monkeys must have been an element of identity, a distinctive marker of one’s specific place in local society.”
However, the study also shows that some monkeys were probably not cared for adequately.
Some macaque skulls showed signs of malnutrition, likely caused by a poor diet lacking fruits and vegetables.
Overall, these findings represent the most comprehensive evidence yet of exotic pet keeping by Romans in Egypt.
“This suggests a resident Roman elite, possibly linked to Roman army officers stationed at the port,” the scientists wrote.