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The 1st and 2nd century AD pet animal cemetery discovered by the Berenike Project team in 2011 at the Red Sea harbor of Berenike is only apparently analogous to ancient animal necropolises known from Europe, Africa and the Near East. In similarity to modern animal cemeteries, it highlights the correlates of human reactions to death, emotions toward other beings and moral dilemmas deriving from differences in the treatment of animals and people, two constituents determining communities in terms of culture, religion and identity.

First, the project takes up the issue of the unique character of the cemetery at Berenike. According to one theory, the “animal pet” cemetery was the outcome of the interplay of the human-animal relation in different civilizational spheres: Egyptian, Mediterranean, Indian and Asiatic. In this sense, it could not have come into existence anywhere but in the specific conditions of an intercontinental emporium. Expert analyses of artifacts associated with the cemetery could provide information on the ethnic and/or religious identification of the caretakers. The other theory derives from the specificity of archaeological methods, predominant archaeological practice and excavation priorities, namely, the trend toward marginalizing “archaeology of the mundane” issues and study of peripheral settlement.

Second, the objective is to explore the definition of the concept of a “companion/pet animal” in antiquity, based principally, however, on empirical, archaeozoological data. Taken together, these two research objectives should serve the imperative purpose of the project which is to determine whether the archaeozoological and archaeological data deriving from the excavations at Berenike can be used as a source for determining the identity and value concepts adopted by the people of Berenike in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.

In an era of multidisciplinarity of science, the project extends the usefulness of archaeological and archaeozoological data in the scientific discourse. The issues at the core of the project are in correspondence to the problems of modern societies. Archaeology has had its say in the Value and Identity debate so far along the lines of ethnic and national identities. In an effort to change this perception of archaeology’s goals and in the spirit of modern debate, the project aims to test the value of archaeological and archaeozoological data for Value and Identity studies on societies from Greco-Roman Antiquity.

Archaeological excavations in Berenike are planned as the main area of new research data, combined with the data already obtained in earlier research. Conceptualizing the study, the task before the project is to determine the size and extent of the animal cemetery. Regular collaboration with specialists in veterinary medicine will constitute an important part of the archaeozological study and this will be achieved by 3D imaging of animal bones and participation of relevant specialists in the fieldwork. The archaeozoological research follows guidelines set down for a developing Animal Studies trend, including the social status of animals, ownership issues, emotional relations. In-depth studies of the finds from the animal graves in Berenike will take on particular significance in this aspect. The excavation work will draw on current experience of the project authors, based on archaeological methodology specially developed for the purpose of exploring the animal cemetery, typical for prehistoric sites rather than ancient urban centers. With regard to archaeozoological research, a full set of analytical components is envisioned: taxonomic and anatomical identification, analysis of pathological data, taphonomic evidence, ageing and sexing. Osteometric analyses are an important element and tool of archaeozoological research.