Millions of Mummy Puppies Revealed at Egyptian Catacombs
Scott Williams, Cardiff University
Dog remains in the catacomb uncovered beneath the Egyptian desert.
The excavation of a labyrinth of tunnels beneath the Egyptian desert has revealed the remains of millions of animals, mostly dogs and jackals. Many appear to have been only hours or days old when they were killed and mummified.
The Dog Catacombs, as they are known, date to 747-730 B.C., and are dedicated to the Anubis, the Egyptians' jackal-headed god of the dead. They were first documented in the 19th century; however, they were never fully excavated. A team, led by Paul Nicholson, an archaeologist at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, is now examining the tunnels and their contents, they announced this week. [Image of mummified puppy remains]
They estimate the catacombs contain the remains of 8 million animals. Given the sheer numbers of animals, it is likely they were bred by the thousands in puppy farms around the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, according to the researchers. The Dog Catacombs are located at Saqqara, the burial ground for the ancient capital Memphis.
"Our findings indicate a rather different view of therelationship between people and the animals they worshipped than that normally associated with the ancient Egyptians, since many animals were killed and mummified when only a matter of hours or days old," Nicholson said. "These animals were not strictly 'sacrificial.' Rather, the dedication of an animal mummy was regarded as a pious act, with the animal acting as intermediary between the donor and the gods." [Prehistoric Cemetery Reveals Man and Fox Were Pals]
In 1897, the French Egyptologist Jacques De Morgan published a map of the necropolis of Saqqara, which included a plan for the Dog Catacombs, but no information about the date or circumstances of their discovery, Nichols wrote in the September/October 2010 issue of Archaeology Magazine.
In fact, virtually nothing is known about these catacombs," he wrote.
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/03/30/millions-mummy-puppies-revealed-egyptian-catacombs/
Scott Williams, Cardiff University
Dog remains in the catacomb uncovered beneath the Egyptian desert.
The excavation of a labyrinth of tunnels beneath the Egyptian desert has revealed the remains of millions of animals, mostly dogs and jackals. Many appear to have been only hours or days old when they were killed and mummified.
The Dog Catacombs, as they are known, date to 747-730 B.C., and are dedicated to the Anubis, the Egyptians' jackal-headed god of the dead. They were first documented in the 19th century; however, they were never fully excavated. A team, led by Paul Nicholson, an archaeologist at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, is now examining the tunnels and their contents, they announced this week. [Image of mummified puppy remains]
They estimate the catacombs contain the remains of 8 million animals. Given the sheer numbers of animals, it is likely they were bred by the thousands in puppy farms around the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, according to the researchers. The Dog Catacombs are located at Saqqara, the burial ground for the ancient capital Memphis.
"Our findings indicate a rather different view of therelationship between people and the animals they worshipped than that normally associated with the ancient Egyptians, since many animals were killed and mummified when only a matter of hours or days old," Nicholson said. "These animals were not strictly 'sacrificial.' Rather, the dedication of an animal mummy was regarded as a pious act, with the animal acting as intermediary between the donor and the gods." [Prehistoric Cemetery Reveals Man and Fox Were Pals]
In 1897, the French Egyptologist Jacques De Morgan published a map of the necropolis of Saqqara, which included a plan for the Dog Catacombs, but no information about the date or circumstances of their discovery, Nichols wrote in the September/October 2010 issue of Archaeology Magazine.
In fact, virtually nothing is known about these catacombs," he wrote.
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/03/30/millions-mummy-puppies-revealed-egyptian-catacombs/
_________________
Millions of Mummy Puppies Revealed at Egyptian Catacombs
Wynne Parry, LiveScience Senior Writer,
LiveScience.com Wynne Parry, Livescience Senior Writer,
livescience.com – Wed Mar 30, 1:15 pm ET
The excavation of a labyrinth of tunnels beneath the Egyptian desert has revealed the remains of millions of animals, mostly dogs and jackals. Many appear to have been only hours or days old when they were killed and mummified.
The Dog Catacombs, as they are known, date to 747-730 B.C., and are dedicated to the Anubis, the Egyptians' jackal-headed god of the dead. They were first documented in the 19th century; however, they were never fully excavated. A team, led by Paul Nicholson, an archaeologist at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, is now examining the tunnels and their contents, they announced this week. [Image of mummified puppy remains]
They estimate the catacombs contain the remains of 8 million animals. Given the sheer numbers of animals, it is likely they were bred by the thousands in puppy farms around the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, according to the researchers. The Dog Catacombs are located at Saqqara, the burial ground for the ancient capital Memphis.
"Our findings indicate a rather different view of the relationship between people and the animals they worshipped than that normally associated with the ancient Egyptians, since many animals were killed and mummified when only a matter of hours or days old," Nicholson said. "These animals were not strictly 'sacrificial.' Rather, the dedication of an animal mummy was regarded as a pious act, with the animal acting as intermediary between the donor and the gods." [Prehistoric Cemetery Reveals Man and Fox Were Pals]
In 1897, the French Egyptologist Jacques De Morgan published a map of the necropolis of Saqqara, which included a plan for the Dog Catacombs, but no information about the date or circumstances of their discovery, Nichols wrote in the September/October 2010 issue of Archaeology Magazine.
"In fact, virtually nothing is known about these catacombs," he wrote.
You can follow LiveScience writer Wynne Parry on Twitter @Wynne_Parry.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20110330/sc_livescience/millionsofmummypuppiesrevealedategyptiancatacombs
Wynne Parry, LiveScience Senior Writer,
LiveScience.com Wynne Parry, Livescience Senior Writer,
livescience.com – Wed Mar 30, 1:15 pm ET
The excavation of a labyrinth of tunnels beneath the Egyptian desert has revealed the remains of millions of animals, mostly dogs and jackals. Many appear to have been only hours or days old when they were killed and mummified.
The Dog Catacombs, as they are known, date to 747-730 B.C., and are dedicated to the Anubis, the Egyptians' jackal-headed god of the dead. They were first documented in the 19th century; however, they were never fully excavated. A team, led by Paul Nicholson, an archaeologist at Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, is now examining the tunnels and their contents, they announced this week. [Image of mummified puppy remains]
They estimate the catacombs contain the remains of 8 million animals. Given the sheer numbers of animals, it is likely they were bred by the thousands in puppy farms around the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, according to the researchers. The Dog Catacombs are located at Saqqara, the burial ground for the ancient capital Memphis.
"Our findings indicate a rather different view of the relationship between people and the animals they worshipped than that normally associated with the ancient Egyptians, since many animals were killed and mummified when only a matter of hours or days old," Nicholson said. "These animals were not strictly 'sacrificial.' Rather, the dedication of an animal mummy was regarded as a pious act, with the animal acting as intermediary between the donor and the gods." [Prehistoric Cemetery Reveals Man and Fox Were Pals]
In 1897, the French Egyptologist Jacques De Morgan published a map of the necropolis of Saqqara, which included a plan for the Dog Catacombs, but no information about the date or circumstances of their discovery, Nichols wrote in the September/October 2010 issue of Archaeology Magazine.
"In fact, virtually nothing is known about these catacombs," he wrote.
You can follow LiveScience writer Wynne Parry on Twitter @Wynne_Parry.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20110330/sc_livescience/millionsofmummypuppiesrevealedategyptiancatacombs
Tunnels contain the mummified remains of millions of dogs
An elaborate labyrinth of sacred tunnels, containing the mummified remains of millions of dogs, has been excavated under the Egyptian desert. The Catacombs of Anubis project, led by Paul Nicholson of Cardiff University, is examining the tunnels beneath the desert at Saqqara, which make up the catacomb for the burial of animals sacred to the dog or jackal-headed god Anubis.
Hendrikje Nouwens, an Egyptologist from the Netherlands, examines one of the dogs buried in a special wall niche. Remains of the wooden coffin can be seen. Photo: Dr Paul T. Nicholson
The Dog Catacomb has been known since the 19th Century but has never been properly excavated before. The excavation team’s latest estimate is that some 8,000,000 animals – most of them dogs or jackals – were buried there. Work on the animal bones suggests that they were only hours or days old when they were killed and mummified. It is likely the dogs were bred in their thousands in special puppy farms around the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis.
Dr Paul Nicholson, of Cardiff University’s School of History, Archaeology and Religion, said: “Our findings indicate a rather different view of the relationship between people and the animals they worshipped than that normally associated with the ancient Egyptians, since many animals were killed and mummified when only a matter of hours or days old. These animals were not strictly ‘sacrificial’. Rather, the dedication of an animal mummy was regarded as a pious act, with the animal acting as intermediary between the donor and the gods.”
The team is hoping that the geological work on the catacomb will help the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, who have generously permitted the work, in monitoring the site for its long term preservation.
In 1897 the great French Egyptologist Jacques De Morgan (1857-1924) published his Carte of the Memphite necropolis, the area around the first of Egypt’s pyramids. His map featured two catacombs described as being for “dogs” but who had first discovered them, who had actually carried out the mapping and whether they really were for dogs has remained something of a mystery.
The proximity of the catacombs to the nearby temple of Anubis, the so called jackal or dog-headed deity associated with cemeteries and embalming makes it likely that these catacombs are indeed for canines and their presence at Saqqara is to be explained by the concentration of other animal cuts at the site. These other cults include the burials of, and temples for, bulls, cows, baboons, ibises, hawks and cats all of which were thought to act as intermediaries between humans an their gods (see Sacred Animal Necropolis). The cults were particularly prominent during the period extending from the Late Period into the early Roman Period (747 B.C. – 1st Century A.D.).
Despite the great quantity of animals buried in these catacombs and the immense size of the underground burial places Egyptologists have traditionally focussed on the temples and on inscriptional evidence rather than on the animals themselves and their places of burial.
A joint Egypt Exploration Society and Cardiff University project begun in 2009 is attempting to learn more about the archaeological and research history of the site. Results from the first season of work have been promising – it has been shown that the De Morgan map has substantial inaccuracies and a new survey is under way. The animal bones themselves have been sampled and preliminary results suggest that as well as actual dogs there may be other canids present. Furthermore the age profile of the animals is being examined so that patterns of mortality can be ascertained.
The project is also examining the cutting of the catacombs and producing a detailed photographic record of the site.
The work has been funded in part by the School of History, Archaeology and Religion and by National Geographic.
The project has just won the Andante Travels Archaeological Award for 2011 for a work which has both archaeological significance and public appeal. Andante Travels is a British company specialising in archaeological tourism and the £2000 award will support further work, including radiocarbon dating of the construction phases of the catacomb.
The Catacombs of Anubis Project
Read more >> http://www.pasthorizons.com/index.php/archives/04/2011/tunnels-contain-the-mummified-remains-of-millions-of-dogs#ixzz1Id5c4GUx
Read the Archaeology News - then buy the Trowel at Past Horizons Tools
An elaborate labyrinth of sacred tunnels, containing the mummified remains of millions of dogs, has been excavated under the Egyptian desert. The Catacombs of Anubis project, led by Paul Nicholson of Cardiff University, is examining the tunnels beneath the desert at Saqqara, which make up the catacomb for the burial of animals sacred to the dog or jackal-headed god Anubis.
Hendrikje Nouwens, an Egyptologist from the Netherlands, examines one of the dogs buried in a special wall niche. Remains of the wooden coffin can be seen. Photo: Dr Paul T. Nicholson
The Dog Catacomb has been known since the 19th Century but has never been properly excavated before. The excavation team’s latest estimate is that some 8,000,000 animals – most of them dogs or jackals – were buried there. Work on the animal bones suggests that they were only hours or days old when they were killed and mummified. It is likely the dogs were bred in their thousands in special puppy farms around the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis.
Dr Paul Nicholson, of Cardiff University’s School of History, Archaeology and Religion, said: “Our findings indicate a rather different view of the relationship between people and the animals they worshipped than that normally associated with the ancient Egyptians, since many animals were killed and mummified when only a matter of hours or days old. These animals were not strictly ‘sacrificial’. Rather, the dedication of an animal mummy was regarded as a pious act, with the animal acting as intermediary between the donor and the gods.”
The team is hoping that the geological work on the catacomb will help the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, who have generously permitted the work, in monitoring the site for its long term preservation.
In 1897 the great French Egyptologist Jacques De Morgan (1857-1924) published his Carte of the Memphite necropolis, the area around the first of Egypt’s pyramids. His map featured two catacombs described as being for “dogs” but who had first discovered them, who had actually carried out the mapping and whether they really were for dogs has remained something of a mystery.
The proximity of the catacombs to the nearby temple of Anubis, the so called jackal or dog-headed deity associated with cemeteries and embalming makes it likely that these catacombs are indeed for canines and their presence at Saqqara is to be explained by the concentration of other animal cuts at the site. These other cults include the burials of, and temples for, bulls, cows, baboons, ibises, hawks and cats all of which were thought to act as intermediaries between humans an their gods (see Sacred Animal Necropolis). The cults were particularly prominent during the period extending from the Late Period into the early Roman Period (747 B.C. – 1st Century A.D.).
Despite the great quantity of animals buried in these catacombs and the immense size of the underground burial places Egyptologists have traditionally focussed on the temples and on inscriptional evidence rather than on the animals themselves and their places of burial.
A joint Egypt Exploration Society and Cardiff University project begun in 2009 is attempting to learn more about the archaeological and research history of the site. Results from the first season of work have been promising – it has been shown that the De Morgan map has substantial inaccuracies and a new survey is under way. The animal bones themselves have been sampled and preliminary results suggest that as well as actual dogs there may be other canids present. Furthermore the age profile of the animals is being examined so that patterns of mortality can be ascertained.
The project is also examining the cutting of the catacombs and producing a detailed photographic record of the site.
The work has been funded in part by the School of History, Archaeology and Religion and by National Geographic.
The project has just won the Andante Travels Archaeological Award for 2011 for a work which has both archaeological significance and public appeal. Andante Travels is a British company specialising in archaeological tourism and the £2000 award will support further work, including radiocarbon dating of the construction phases of the catacomb.
The Catacombs of Anubis Project
Read more >> http://www.pasthorizons.com/index.php/archives/04/2011/tunnels-contain-the-mummified-remains-of-millions-of-dogs#ixzz1Id5c4GUx
Read the Archaeology News - then buy the Trowel at Past Horizons Tools
artículo de National Geographic con fotos de las momias de los animales sacrificados
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/04/pictures/110406-egypt-puppy-mummies-animals-dogs-science-catacomb-mummified/#/01-egypt-dog-mummies-sifting_34260_600x450.jpg
http://www.nationalgeographic.it/popoli-culture/2011/04/08/foto/mummie_cuccioli_egitto-277423/2/
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/04/pictures/110406-egypt-puppy-mummies-animals-dogs-science-catacomb-mummified/#/01-egypt-dog-mummies-sifting_34260_600x450.jpg
http://www.nationalgeographic.it/popoli-culture/2011/04/08/foto/mummie_cuccioli_egitto-277423/2/
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