An archaeozoological, archaeological, and religious-historical examination of the Ptolemaic-Roman temple herd and burial ground at Syene

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Research in this project focuses on an animal necropolis situated in the urban space of present-day Aswan, which has been in use from the first half of the 2nd century BC till the end of the 1st century AD. Here at least 315 animals, mainly sheep but also dogs, cats and calves were deposited in shallow depressions together with grave goods. One terraced building surrounded by several courtyards shows a close chronological and functional relationship to the burials and grave goods. The centrepiece of this building consists of a raised, two-roomed podium that could be accessed from the north by a staircase. The construction phases of the building can be correlated with the consecutive phases of utilization of the animal cemetery. A detailed analysis of the ceramics, grave goods and the animal burials recovered from this ritual precinct is intended in order to document burial customs and evaluate diachronically quantitative and qualitative changes, e.g. in species spectrum or content and spatial distribution of species and grave goods. In close collaboration with Archaeology, Archaeozoology and Egyptology, this project intends to shed light on the type and nature of this unique animal cemetery and its role within the Ptolemaic and Early Roman city of Syene whilst providing deeper insight into local animal worship and associated religious conceptions.