“Unraveling Ancient Rituals: What Did 140 Sacrificed Dogs Reveal About Roman Beliefs in England?”
In a remarkable archaeological find that feels like a plot twist straight out of a Roman drama, researchers unearthed a staggering 5,436 dog bones at the Nescot site in England back in 2015! Picture this: a hidden pit filled with what seems to be an ancient canine congregation, primarily made up of small, corgi-like dogs – definitely a sight to wag about! These pups, intriguingly believed to have been ritually sacrificed, likely paid homage to deities such as Pluto, the god of the underworld, and Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft and the Moon. One must wonder, was it a case of “puppy love” in ancient rituals, or simply tradition that crossed the threshold into the realm of the bizarre? Dr. Ellen Greene’s recent study could finally shine a light on this enigma, unveiling secrets about the spiritual significance of our four-legged friends in Roman Britain. Are you curious about what it all means? Join me as we dig deeper into this paw-sitively fascinating tale! LEARN MORE
Found at the Nescot archaeological site in 2015, these largely corgi-like canines were believed to have been ritually killed in various ceremonies, likely in honor of deities such as Pluto, god of the underworld, and Hecate, goddess of witchcraft and the Moon.
Ellen GreeneA dog skull unearthed among the thousands of Roman-era canine bones discovered at the Nescot archaeological site in England.
Archaeological excavations at the former Animal Husbandry Center of Nescot College that were conducted in 2015 revealed a startling mystery: a Roman-era quarry pit filled with a staggering number of dog remains. In total, researchers found 5,436 bones belonging to at least 140 individual dogs — one of the largest assemblages of canine remains ever found in Roman Britain.
But for the better part of the past decade, no one knew exactly why these dogs had been buried here en masse. A recent study by Dr. Ellen Greene published in the International Journey of Paleopathology, however, may finally shed light on some of these mysteries while also raising further questions about the role of dogs in Roman and Romano-British religious practices.
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