Faunal remains from the Late Antiquity ‘cave sanctuary’ (Mithraeum?) of Kropfsberg (Tyrol, Austria)

Archaeological excavations conducted by the research center HiMAT of the University of Innsbruck in an original mine at the castle hill of Kropfsberg led to the discovery of a ritual site that was used during the Roman period and Late Antiquity. Based on the archaeological finds, the context of discovery within the enclosed, dark, and lockable mine, and comparative studies with other sites north and south of the Alps, it seems that the ritual activities can be related to a Mithraic cult. The ritual use of the site and a possible connection to Mithraism are also reflected by the faunal remains that were retrieved from the cultic deposits. The archaeozoological results indicate a dominance of pigs and chickens followed by sheep/goats and cattle. Remarkable faunistic features include the prevalence of non-adult individuals for pigs and sheep/goats as well as the dominance of male chickens. Furthermore, 20% of the identified faunal material has been exposed to fire and micromorphological studies indicate complex ritual practices. Finally, based on the analyses of teeth coming from pigs, it seems that the ritual activities in Kropfsberg took place around the summer season.