Nine Crocodile Remains Found Inside Tombs of Egyptian Nobles

A group of archaeologists led by Dr. Patryk Chudzik at the Center of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw, recently discovered nine crocodile heads hidden within the tombs of noble people in Egypt. This is reportedly the first such discovery of its kind. The team was excavating an area known as the Theban Necropolis, which was used for ritual burials in the New Kingdom period of ancient Egypt (16th to 11th centuries BC) on the west bank of the Nile. The skulls were found in the Necropolis of el-Asasif, also located on the west bank of Theban.

Dr. Chudzik told Newsweek that this discovery is extremely unusual and has not been seen before in the history of Egyptian research. While crocodile mummies have been found along the Nile in the past, they are typically mummies of entire crocodiles that have been placed in special catacombs reserved for sacred animals, specifically crocodiles or the sacred animals of the god Sobek.

Reptile Presence in Nile River

In this case, however, only the heads of the Nile reptiles were found, and they were not mummified but rather wrapped in linen. Additionally, the remains were discovered in the tombs of humans, not in the catacombs reserved for sacred animals. This is a significant departure from what has been previously observed.

Previously, only a few crocodile teeth have been found near a tomb in Middle Egypt. However, this is not enough evidence to determine the significance of these gifts, as it is not clear if the crocodile heads were brought to the tombs in this form during funeral ceremonies. More information would be needed to understand the purpose of these objects.

The tombs where the crocodile heads were found are located in an area where many nobles are buried, including a high-status official who lived during the reign of King Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II, a pharaoh known for reuniting Egypt after the First Intermediate period, a time of political instability and division in the country. Another tomb belongs to another high-status official called Cheti, who is believed to have served in the royal court, according to Heritage Daily.

The skulls belong to Nile crocodiles, a species that still lives in the Nile River today. In ancient Egypt, crocodiles were highly respected and seen as symbols of strength and agility. They were also closely associated with the deity Sobek, who was often depicted with a crocodile head.

Crocodile as Egyptian God

Researchers believe that the crocodile heads in the tombs may have been gifts to the important officials buried there. While it is well known that crocodiles were highly revered in ancient Egypt, this specific tradition has not been studied. According to Dr. Chudzik, it is possible that the crocodile heads held exceptional importance and were a sign of the exceptional status of the deceased, as these types of finds have not been discovered in tombs belonging to people of lower social classes.

According to Dr. Chudzik, the tombs where the crocodile heads were found belonged to important officials at the royal court. In addition, during a recent excavation season, the remains of crocodile mandibles were found in another tomb belonging to an important official. This suggests that the discovery of crocodile remains in tombs may be a previously unknown phenomenon.

The University of Warsaw archaeologists have been studying two tombs in the Theban Necropolis for nearly a decade as part of their research on the influence of the Middle Kingdom of ancient Egypt (2040 BC) on the New Kingdom. The team has been excavating the tomb of Cheti since 2014 and continues to uncover new finds. The discovery of these remains raises interesting questions about the significance of animal remains in ancient Egyptian tombs. It appears that they were not just simple sacrifices but had symbolic meaning. In the case of the crocodiles, it is likely a reference to the god Sobek-Ra, according to Dr. Chudzik.

Check out more news and information on Paleontology in Science Times.