http://m.timesofindia.com/home/science/Millions-of-mummified-dog-remains-found-in-Egypt/articleshow/47754380.cms
Excerpt from article...
"We hadn't expected that there would be so many animals, and it opens up a new series of questions."
One question that experts can at least partially answer is why an Egyptian might have brought an animal, dead or alive, to such a place.
A dog, especially, would be a good fit because it might then interact with Anubis, an ancient Egyptian God of the dead, depicted with the body of a man and head of a dog or, its close relative, a jackal.
"The important thing was to provide a representation of the God with a fitting burial," Nicholson said.
"It's not some sort of blood sacrifice. It's a religious act that's done for the best possible motive."
The animal's owner would hope that, by doing this, "some good will come to you", the Wales-based Egyptologist said.
"Maybe you're hoping that the animal will help someone in your family who has died recently (so that) Anubis will take care of that (relative)."
Just as Egyptians' view of Anubis, and dogs, has been common knowledge for some time, so too have the dog catacombs of Anubis. This includes a map from 1897 that shows their location clearly marked.
