Folia archeologica 48.
István Vörös: Az aquincumi castrum mithraeumának állatcsontleletei
78 ISTVÁN VÖRÖS Augusta Treveroru m - Trier In the Mithraeum, "at the entrance to the aisle was a sacrificial pit, it contained a layer of ash, 45 cm deep, mixed with bir d bones" 4 1 . Angleur In the Mithraeum, "in the NW angle of the sanctuary a deep-grey urn filled up with ash, bones of bird s" 4 2 were found. "Numerous bones of animals, such as birds (mostly hens), beasts of prey (jaw-bones and fangs of wolves, foxe s and marten s) and the muzzle (sic!) of a wild boa r" 4 3 were also mentioned. BRITANIA Burha m Cave A cave cut in the bedrock as an "underground room" Mithraic sanctuary. "Later it was filled up with kinds of refuse, e.g., bones of horse s, oxe n, deer pi g and shee p 4 4 . Procoliti a - Temple Carrawburgh In the Mithraeum, "in front of the altars lay a ritual hearth. Meals or sacrifices were represented by bones of young pig s, lamb s or goat s. Below the altars a ritual pit contained a thin cup and a beaker with the skulT of a fow l in it" 4 5. Representing Period III. in the sanctuary below the altars there was a ritual deposit of skulls and bones of domestic fow l. In Period H.A. in the ante-room and in Period III, in the aisle there were bones of ox, shee p or goa t and pi g 4 6 . Without aiming at the total collection of data, animal remains of some 30 Mithraic temples were presented above. The representation value of the data are widely different: starting from general statements as "animals" or "birds", the analysis level extent to exact determination of the species and the anatomical position of the bones. Animal bones from old excavations are typically missing and the animal remains found were identified by lay persons. Therefore the absence of certain species in such lists cannot serve as negative evidence. By the zoological elaboration, if possible, the list of species can be completed. Among the Mithraic temples collected, there were 24 temples and 6 natural cavities. The animal remains originated from, in 8 instances, the sanctuary and in 2 cases a sacrificial pit within the temple. In five of the mentioned Mithraic temples, only "animal bones", in case of seven, "bird(s) bones" were mentioned only. The frequency of animal species in the 25 Mithraeum with more detailed description is as follows (see Table 10.): birds 20 (13 fowls, 7 bird(s)) Pig 17 sheep / goat 15 cattle 14 4 1 Walters 1974.25. 4 2 CIMRM I. 979. 4 3 CIMRM I. 980. 4 4 CIMRM I. 808. 4 5 CIMRM I. 844. 4 6 CIMRM 1.851.
