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News - Roman Pet Monkeys Evaluated - Archaeology Magazine
- Monkeys from southern India or the Indus region were found at the Roman port of Berenice, identified as pet animals.
- Researchers say these monkeys were kept as pets by Roman elites, likely army officers, during the first and second centuries A.D.
- Some monkeys were buried with personal belongings, including a piglet, seashells, and a rag doll, suggesting ritual or status signaling.
- Other macaques were found with a puppy and a kitten, and one had a tomb marker, indicating varied funerary practices.
- Bone analysis shows signs of malnutrition, implying owners struggled to provide for their pets despite special treatment.
- The discovery broadens understanding of Roman imperial household life and cross-regional animal trade.
- The Berenice discovery is connected to earlier reports on animal necropolises from the region and Egypt.
- Archaeologists from multiple institutions participated, including the University of Wrocław and the University of Warsaw.
- The monkeys identified include rhesus macaques, bonnet macaques, and a grivet.
- The discovery sits at the port of Berenice on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, offering new clues about Roman-era pet culture.
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