Romans traded exotic animals across empire
UC Classics professor finds giraffe bone at Pompeii
MSN highlighted excavations by the University of Cincinnati at the ancient city of Pompeii that turned up evidence of an exotic animal trade 2,000 years ago.
UC Classics Professor Steven Ellis led excavations of the Porta Stabia neighborhood in Pompeii, which was entombed in ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.
The neighborhood Ellis uncovered was a retail district consisting of nearly a dozen properties across two multilevel structures just inside one of Pompeii’s seven main entrance gates. The buildings contained retail shops and entertainment spaces where generations before stood the workshops of skilled trades workers.
A fifth century mosaic from Syria or Lebanon now at the Art Institute of Chicago shows a keeper leading a giraffe. Photo/Sailko/Wikimedia Commons
The site has provided archaeologists with a bonanza of information about this ancient civilization because it preserved hundreds of thousands of artifacts across more than 1,000 city properties.
An examination of drains used by restaurants and kitchens in the neighborhood revealed the ancient diet of city residents to Ellis and his international research team. This included menu items such as grains, local fruits, nuts, olives, beans, local fish and chicken eggs along with imported items such as shellfish, sea urchin and exotic spices like sesame seeds and peppercorns imported from far beyond the city.
The strangest discovery was a butchered leg of a giraffe, the provenance of which is a subject of debate.
Giraffes were found across much of arid North Africa, including places like Morocco, Libya and Egypt, before they disappeared there about 1,400 years ago.
By analyzing the food scraps found in the buildings, they recreated the menu at the restaurants. In one, they find evidence of locally harvested seafood, meats, grains and vegetables. But at another establishment, they find a richer variety of foods, ingredients and spices, some imported from distant places.
“They have both more and a greater range of everything — higher priced cuts of meat, a greater range of seafood and more interesting flavorings,” Ellis said.
The MSN story originally appeared in the Times of India.
Featured image at top: UC Classics Professor Steven Ellis led excavations at Pompeii with an international team of researchers who discovered more about the lives of people in the Porta Stabia neighborhood. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
UC Classics Professor Steven Ellis published the first volume on his team's excavation's of the Porta Stabia neighborhood in Pompeii. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
More UC Classics in the news
The hilt of a sword was found in the tomb of the Griffin Warrior in Pylos, Greece, by UC Classics Professor Jack Davis and Senior Research Associate Sharon Stocker. Photo/Jeff Vanderpool/UC Classics
Related Stories
UC welcomes newest Bearcats during student orientation
July 13, 2026
Local 12 News and WLWT speak with Jack Miner, vice provost for enrollment management, about the University of Cincinnati welcoming a record number of new Bearcats during student orientation sessions.
UC students organize free health clinic in community
July 13, 2026
The University of Cincinnati student chapter of Remote Area Medical held its annual free health clinic July 11-12 at St. Xavier High School. Medical, dental and vision care was offered to adults and children, with no income requirements or insurance needed.
Ohio ranked No. 1 for business by CNBC
July 10, 2026
Ohio is CNBC’s No. 1 Top State for Business in 2026. The University of Cincinnati helps fuel that success through co-op, innovation, talent development and close collaboration with the state.