Crocodile mummies unearthed in ancient Egyptian necropolis were finally studied

sarahjay1 (69)memberin Popular STEM • 2 years ago

(Bea De Cupere et al. / PLoS ONE, 2023 https://bit.ly/3km6lbR)

An international team of archaeologists led by Bea De Cupere from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences studied the burial of crocodiles, discovered in 2019 in the ancient Egyptian necropolis of Qubbet el-Hawa.

The researchers found the remains of ten Nile and West African crocodiles in the tomb, one of which has survived to this day in the form of an almost complete mummy.

Although scientists were unable to determine how these animals were killed and where they were caught, they have established that the burial dates back to the 5th century BC.

The ancient Egyptians mummified many types of animals, such as cats, dogs, and even beetles.

If the main goal of mummifying people was so that they could exist in the afterlife, then animals are believed to have been mummified for other reasons.

Pets could be buried along with the owner, some animals and birds were “a supply of food for the afterlife”, and others because people worshiped them.

Some of the most famous mummies belonged to the sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus), large birds that the ancient Egyptians identified with the god of wisdom, Thoth.

THE STUDY
Now the team has presented the results of a study of a crocodile burial excavated in 2019 in the ancient Egyptian necropolis of Cubbet el-Hawa, which is located near the city of Aswan.

In the deeper layers of the same tomb, archaeologists discovered faience beads from the New Kingdom, as well as burials of four individuals dated at the end of the First Intermediate Period.

Archeologists found 5 individual skulls, four more or less complete skeletons, as well as one mummified crocodile.

The total was ten individuals, although it was originally assumed that there were 11 of them.

The length of the mummified individual (crocodile No. 5) was 223 centimeters, although, judging by the skull of the animal, during life it should have reached 263 centimeters.

The most complete skeleton belonged to crocodile number 4, the length of which scientists estimated at 350 centimeters.

On three ribs of this animal, the researchers noticed traces of healed fractures, in addition, pathologies were present on several more bones.

There were also injuries on the bones of crocodile No. 11, whose length was 353 centimeters.

The length of the rest of the crocodiles ranged from 185 to 333 centimeters.

Along with the remains, the researchers also found doom palm (Hyphaene thebaica) leaves, which appear to have been wrapped around the animals.

In addition, next to some specimens were the remains of linen and pieces of rope.

Inside the mummy of crocodile number 5, scientists also found the shell of at least 5 yellowish eggs, similar to eggs of lizards or snakes, which the animal ate.

In addition, about 20 ant pupae and some other insect remains were inside.

Near and inside the crocodiles, the researchers also found the remains of plants:

sycamore (Cyperus)
pondweed (Potamogeton)
cordia slime (Cordia myxa)
date palm (Phoenix daxtylifera)

CROCO-MUMMIES
Scientists noted that they did not find evidence of how these animals were killed.

Cuts were present on 3 skulls, however, apparently, this is the result of the decapitation of already dried carcasses, and not freshly killed animals.

At the same time, methods of killing crocodiles are known that do not leave noticeable traces: they are drowned, strangled or overheated in the sun.

On none of the crocodiles, the researchers did not find residues of resin or bitumen that could be used for mummification of animals.

Probably, the Egyptians were able to turn them into mummies in a natural way, since the local environment allows this.

Scientists have not found evidence of how these animals were killed and where it happened.

However, they were able to establish that both Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) and West African crocodiles (C. suchus) were present among the finds.

According to them, the burial dates back to the 5th century BC.

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