“Unraveling Ancient Rituals: What Did 140 Sacrificed Dogs Reveal About Roman Beliefs in England?”
Thousands Of Dog Bones From Roman-Era Sacrifices Found In England’s Nescot Quarry
Ellen GreeneThe dog bones found in the Nescot quarry largely came from corgi-like canines of small stature with short legs.
In 2015, archaeological excavations at England’s Nescot College in Ewell, Surrey revealed a roughly 13-foot oval shaft dating back to the late first or early second century C.E. Experts determined that the shaft had originated as a Roman quarry pit, but it was later repurposed into a deposit for various items including human remains, coins, gaming tokens, and pottery.
Furthermore, researchers identified three distinct phases of the shaft’s use. Phases one and two included a significant amount of animal remains, while the third phase saw a sharp decline in ritual deposits and seemingly saw a transition to more mundane use of the pit. However, the sheer number of dog bones that had been deposited during the first two phases left archaeologists shocked.
Of the 10,747 animal bones found in the Nescot shaft, more than half belonged to dogs. In total, there were 5,436 canine bones. One canine phallic bone that had been painted proved especially striking and unusual.
While dog sacrifices were not uncommon in the Roman era, the sheer amount found here was unprecedented — and as such, it presented a unique case study for researchers.
Dr. Ellen Greene certainly thought so, and now the results of her study have been published.
Analyzing The Remains Left Behind After The Ancient Nescot Dog Burials
While the dog breeds of today did not exist in the Roman era, previous research has shown that Romans had “toy dogs” and other specifically-curated breeds that resemble modern ones. Based on Greene’s analysis, the dogs buried at Nescot were mostly small breeds, though they were fairly diverse.
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