Overview
- The peer-reviewed study in the Journal of Roman Archaeology examined about 35 monkey burials dated to the 1st–2nd centuries CE within an animal cemetery that has yielded nearly 800 interments.
- Osteological comparisons identified most of the primates as Indian rhesus macaques, contrasting with earlier Roman pet monkey finds that traced to African species.
- Roughly 40% of monkey graves contained items such as collars, food offerings, and iridescent shells, compared with about 3% for cats and dogs at the same site.
- Some macaques were buried with small animals like piglets or kittens, and the authors infer ownership by high-ranking Roman military personnel as a display of elite identity.
- Two skulls showed signs of malnutrition likely linked to Berenike’s isolation, while traces like tree resin on a monkey’s feet suggest attempts at rudimentary medical care.