A mummified crocodile, estimated to be around 3,000 years old, was found with a lethal meal still inside its stomach.
Scientists in Manchester examined the seven-foot reptile using X-rays after its discovery in Birmingham.
The ancient crocodile, believed to have been mummified by the Egyptians who revered animals in their mythology, revealed a baited hook lodged in its stomach during a full-body scan.
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This significant find, reported by Need To Know, suggests that the hook could have been the cause of the creature’s demise.
Lidija Mcknight, lead author and research fellow at The University of Manchester, noted that the presence of the hook and the fish indicates that the crocodile likely died shortly after ingesting them, as the lack of digestive degradation shows.
She mentioned that the short timeframe between ingestion and death implies the crocodile was deliberately caught and then mummified as an offering to the crocodile god Sobek.
However, determining the exact sequence of events leading to the animal’s death remains challenging. It is unclear if the hook killed the crocodile directly or if it was captured post-ingestion.
The crocodile, estimated to be between 3,000 and 2,000 years old, is currently housed at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, cataloged as item 2005.335.
The origins of how the mummy arrived in Birmingham or where it was initially discovered are still unknown.
For their research, McKnight and her team utilized 3D radiography to examine the crocodile. Unlike many ancient Egyptian animal mummies, which are often wrapped in linen, this particular crocodile mummy had been unwrapped at some point, making its physical form visible.
McKnight expressed regret over the lack of detailed provenance for the mummy but noted that this is common with mummified animal remains.
In ancient Egypt, healthy crocodiles symbolized fertility and abundant agriculture, and wearing crocodile skin was believed to offer protection from danger.
This study is part of the Ancient Egyptian Animal Bio Bank project, which aims to research collections of mummified animal remains in museums worldwide.
McKnight highlighted that analyzing multiple collections will help to better understand the broader practice of animal mummification in ancient Egypt. The study provided remarkable insights into the life and post-mortem treatment of the crocodile.
Crocodile mummy 2005.335 presented a rare chance for scientific analysis of a large animal mummy, offering fascinating details that continue to captivate museum visitors.
This work not only adds to our knowledge of ancient practices but also enhances the connection between visitors and the historical narratives of these animals.
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