Ancient art reveals an extinct goose

As a University of Queensland researcher examined a 4,600-year-old Egyptian painting last year, a speckled goose caught his eye.

UQ scientist Dr Anthony Romilio said this strange but beautiful bird is quite different from modern red-breasted geese (Branta ruficollis), with distinct and bold colors and patterns on its body, face, its chest, wings and legs.

“The painting, Meidum Geese, has been admired since its discovery in the 1800s and described as” the Mona Lisa of Egypt, “he said.

“Apparently, no one realized that he represented an unknown species.

“The artistic license might explain the differences with modern geese, but the artwork on this site features extremely realistic depictions of other birds and mammals.”

Dr Romilio said no bones of modern red-breasted geese (Branta ruficollis) had been found at any Egyptian archaeological site.

“Strangely enough, bones from a similar but not identical bird were found in Crete,” he said.

“Zoologically speaking, the Egyptian artwork is the only documentation of this distinctive patterned goose, which now appears to be largely extinct.”

Dr Romilio said extinct animals have already been identified in ancient art, but not all species have been scientifically confirmed.

“I applied the Tobias criteria to the goose, as well as other types of geese in the fresco,” he said.

“This is a very effective method of identifying species – using quantitative measures of key bird characteristics – and greatly enhances the value of the information for zoological and ecological science.”

Dr Romilio said Egypt was not always predominantly desert and had “a history rich in biodiversity, rich in extinct species”.

“Its ancient culture emerged when the Sahara was green and covered with meadows, lakes and forests, teeming with various animals, many of which were depicted in tombs and temples,” he said.

“So far, science has confirmed the identity of relatively few of these species.”

Dr Romilio said the artwork he examined came from the tomb of Nefermaat and Itet in Meidum and is now in the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo.

“The art provides cultural insight, but also a valuable graphic recording of animals unknown today,” he said.

“These include the predecessor of modern cattle, the auroch (Bos primigenius), and hitherto unknown forms of gazelle, oryx, antelope and donkey.

“These ancient animal representations help us recognize the biodiversity thousands of years ago that coexisted with humans.

“I also see it as a reminder of the influence of humans on the survival of the species that are with us today.”

The research was published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

Dr Romilio said that a myriad of species with color markings not matching those of modern animals were detailed in “A Guide to the Extinct Animals of Ancient Egypt.”