Bird and other animal sacrifice in the Ploutonion of Hierapolis, Phrygia (Turkey). Some results from two votive deposits

The sacrifice of animals was an important part of the rite at the Ploutonion of Hierapolis (Turkey); as reported by several ancient writers, it was carried out by suffocation caused by the toxic fumes that escaped, together with spring water, from a cave. Strabo clearly describes the sacrifice of bulls and the custom of throwing birds inside the cave: their immediate death was a proof of divine powers, while priests were not harmed by the gases. The archaeological excavations carried out by the University of Salento brought to light numerous votive deposits inside the sanctuary. The results of the study of animal remains from two such deposits are presented here; the material is dated to the 1st–2nd centuries AD, although stratigraphical analyses suggest it was redeposited in Room Q1 of the sanctuary in the 3rd–4th centuries AD. In both deposits the remains of birds are predominant; among mammals, caprine, pig, and cattle remains are the most represented; other mammal remains include few bones of hare and some bones and teeth of two dogs. Caprine, cattle and pig remains belong mainly to young animals. Among the birds, rock dove and domestic fowl are the most common species, followed by the remains of other birds of different sizes, not yet identified to species level. Most of the remains of domestic fowl and rock dove belong to mature individuals. The presence of medullary bone in more than half of the femurs recovered from both deposits indicates that numerous hens were hatching at the time of sacrifice. This is consistent with the discovery of eggshell fragments. Almost complete skeletons of domestic fowl and rock dove have been recorded, suggesting that their carcasses were not processed after suffocation. Furthermore, no evidence for slaughtering was found, while burning marks were very common. Some remains of fish and reptiles suggest that these animals also took part in the rite.