Pigeons

Individual pigeon pots would have been placed within larger structures, or dovecotes, to serve as nests. It has been estimated that as many as 4000 pigeons might have been kept at one time in Karanis. This pigeon pot was essentially a house for domestic pigeons. Pigeons were bred primarily for food, but their droppings were also extremely valuable as fertilizer. Pigeons were also occasionally used in sacrificial rites.