Archaeologists in Velzeke, Belgium, discovered a well-preserved Roman dog buried beneath a stone foundation. Archaeologist Arne Verbrugge from SOLVA noted the rarity of the find in the region due to the preservation conditions.
"The discovery of the Roman dog is special for two reasons," stated Verbrugge, as reported by VRT. "We don't find much well-preserved bone from the Roman period. That decayed in our regions, but because the dog was buried under a stone foundation, it was well preserved."
The dog's burial under the stone foundation not only protected it from decay but also provides valuable insights into ancient Roman rituals. Historical records indicate that dogs often played roles in purification rites during construction or healing ceremonies in ancient Rome. "We know from historical sources that dogs sometimes played a role in certain religious or ritual practices," Verbrugge explained. "They were supposed to provide a kind of purification—for example, during the construction of a new building or certain healing rituals," he noted, according to VRT.
This discovery suggests that the dog was likely an offering linked to rituals associated with an important building. "What is also interesting is the connection to a building," Verbrugge noted. "The dog was buried under a structure, and we probably have to consider that as a kind of building sacrifice," he said.
The stone foundation acted as a protective barrier against decay, allowing researchers to study remains that would otherwise be lost to time.
In an excavation area of approximately 1,000 square meters in Velzeke, more than 700 traces from the 1st to 3rd century CE have been found, according to VRT. These findings include remnants of buildings, artifacts, and now, the well-preserved dog. The abundance of traces suggests that Velzeke was a site of activity during the Roman period.
The excavated dog will be studied by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.