In ancient Asyut, Lycopolis, main gods of the city Wepwawet and Anubis, being often depicted with canid figures, played significant roles in the (local) religion. Since 2003 the joint German/Egyptian Asyut Project has conducted fieldwork on Gebel Asyut al-gharbi, the western mountain of the city. Gebel Asyut had different functions such as necropolis for Asyuti people, quarries, destination for school excursions, dwelling place for Christian anachorets, place of prayer in the Islamic Period, military base and animal necropoleis.

There were two animal necropoleis connected with Wepwawet and/or Anubis: one near the so-called Salakhana-Tomb and one higher up in the mountain near Tomb IV. The last mentioned, the so-called Tomb of the Dogs, was relocated in 2008 by means of a survey.

Results of analysis of osteofaunal remains (e.g. species composition, mortality pattern, pathology) as well as of radiographic study on non-human mummies from the survey, sampling at some locations inside the tomb and around the tomb will be discussed. The most frequently identified animal is canid (dog Canis lupus f. familiaris, African wolf Canis aureus lupaster and fox Vulpes sp.), followed by cat (Felis sp.). Cattle and sheep/goat are also present in the assemblages.