An archaeozoological, archaeological, and religious-historical examination of the Ptolemaic-Roman temple herd and burial ground at Syene
Classical, Roman, Christian and Islamic Archaeology
Veterinary Medical Science
Final Report Abstract
On the one hand, the animal cemetery of Syene fits into the overall religious-historical picture of Ptolemaic and early imperial Egypt, but on the other hand, it also shows many peculiarities. As such, the cemetery is located in an urban area. It lies in close proximity to one of the most important b urial sites for sacred animals, the ram cemetery on the island of Elephantine, and in the temenos of the Temple of Isis at Syene. Unlike the case in Elephantine Island, no evidence of mummification was found in Syene. The fact that sheep and perhaps dogs, cats and calves were all kept and buried in the cemetery area is also difficult to reconcile with conventional ideas about ancient Egyptian animal cults. These peculiarities and the lack of comparable sites, as well as the complete absence of epigraphic or historical sources, rendered it necessary to make the material culture and the skeletons of the buried animals speak. The archaeozoological biographies of each individual and the stratigraphically contextualized objects associated with the burials provide unique insights into cult events and living conditions, as well as the changes that occurred during the two hundred years that the cemetery existed. In contrast to most animal cemeteries, it was also possible to examine the spatial and architectural conditions in Syene. On the one hand, an analysis of the central cult building and its outdoor facilities makes the function of various zones of the cemetery clear, and on the other hand, it allows elucidating the chronological development of the necropolis. The Egyptological religious-historical classification of the finds and findings in general and in relation to the cult of Chnum makes clear the many ways in which the worship of animals was implemented in the political and religious ideas and concepts of that time.
Publications
-
Neuentdeckung in Assuan. Ein ungewöhnlicher Tierfriedhof. Antike Welt 2018, 2/8, 25-29
Hepa M., Müller W., Mutze U.R.
-
A non-linear prediction model for ageing foetal and neonatal sheep reveals basic issues in early neolithic husbandry. Journal of Archaeological Science, 130, 105344.
Pöllath, Nadja; García-González, Ricardo; Kevork, Sevag; Mutze, Ursula; Zimmermann, Michaela I.; Özbaşaran, Mihriban & Peters, Joris
-
Die Bestattungen aus dem Tierfriedhof von Syene/Assuan. Eine paläoanatomische Untersuchung. Diss. med. vet., LMU München
Mutze, U. R.
-
Old Dentitions and Young Post-crania Sheep Burials in the Ptolemaic-Early Roman Animal Necropolis at Syene/Upper Egypt. Archaeozoology of Southwest Asia and Adjacent Areas XIII (2021), 129-140. American Geophysical Union (AGU).
Mutze, Ursula R.; Müller, Wolfgang; Hepa, Mariola & Peters, Joris
-
Wear of Teeth in Sheep (WoTiS) - A tool for determining the rate of mandibular tooth wear in sheep. Journal of Archaeological Science, 136 (2021, 12), 105300.
Mutze, Ursula R.; Mutze, Ulrich; Jones, Gillian G. & Peters, Joris
-
Funktionale Analyse und Kontextualisierung von Keramik aus einem ptolemäischrömischen Tiergräberfeld in Syene/Oberägypten. In: Rembart L., Waldner A. (eds.), Manufacturers and Markets. The Contributions of Hellenistic Pottery to Economies Large and Small. Proceedings of the 4th Conference of IARPotHP, Athens, November 2019, 11th – 14th. Phoibos Verlag, Wien, pp. 329-338. (PDF 3)
Hepa M.
