Buried with 142 dogs: archaeologists found an unusual children’s burial in Egypt

The find, made near Cairo, belongs to the period between the 1st century BC. to. and 1st century AD. to. Meanwhile, the Romans took control of Egypt, according to The Jerusalem Post.

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dogs in ancient egypt

The buried dogs, 87 percent of whom were puppies, are thought to have perished in the flood. Archaeologists were also able to predict that they died without violence. Dogs found in reservoirs at the time also found blue clay on their bodies, supporting the theory that the dogs were drowning.

Although the ancient Egyptians worshiped many animals, dogs were not considered sacred. They were used as pets and labor. However, some dogs were mummified and buried with their owners. The ancient Egyptians believed that the dog-headed gods Anubis and Upuat accompanied the souls of the dead in the afterlife. Some dogs were sacrificed to act as amulets in the tomb.

The only case in which an analogy can be made is the body of a child, along with 12 dogs, found in the cemetery at Hierakonpolis.

It is unknown why the boy was buried there. The researchers’ working theory is that the boy died while caring for the dogs and was therefore buried with them.

children in ancient egypt

It is unlikely that the boy and his dog were executed. In ancient Egypt, children were treated well, had access to education, and were forbidden to learn a craft.

The fact that the boy was found with a linen bag on his head also adds to the mystery of the event. The only other case where a corpse was found with a linen sack over its head meant that the person had been killed by an arrow.

Previously Focus wrote about the Egyptian tomb of an unknown king. Archaeologists attribute this to the golden age of ancient Egypt.