Lapworth Lecture - Going to the Dogs: The Catacombs of Anubis at North Saqqara

The Ancient Egyptians regarded many animals as representatives of particular deities and during the Late Period (747-332 B.C.) and Ptolemaic Period (332-30 B.C.) animal cults enjoyed particular popularity with many thousands of animals being buried as votive offerings. These, it was believed, would serve as messengers between donor and deity.

This paper looks at the burial place of votive dogs at North Saqqara, examines the construction of their catacomb – which accidentally exposed the remains of a fossil Sirenian (the first vertebrate fossil known from its strata at Saqqara) - and its history from construction to rediscovery. Examination of the animal remains from the site has shown them to be from a wider range of species than expected, with a much different age profile than previously assumed and potentially present in much greater numbers than originally believed.

About Paul

Paul T. Nicholson is Emeritus Professor of Egyptian Archaeology at Cardiff University. He has worked at numerous sites in Egypt including Tell el-Amarna, Memphis, Saqqara, Berenike and the South Assasif. He also has a life-long – and very amateur - interest in palaeontology and has worked on a dinosaur excavation with Jack Horner in Montana.

His publications include The British Museum Dictionary of Ancient Egypt (with Ian Shaw), Ancient Egyptian Materials and Technology (edited with Ian Shaw), Brilliant Things for Akhenaten and The Catacombs of Anubis at North Saqqara.

The lecture is free and open to everyone, taking place on campus and on Zoom.