Scientists have uncovered a "unique" method of preservation used on ancient mummified crocodiles found in an undisturbed tomb in Egypt. The team of researchers discovered that some of the crocodiles had been decapitated after being dried out. The investigation of these ten mummies from the site of Qubbat al-Hawā, located on the western bank of the Nile River, has provided new insights into the burial practices of ancient Egyptians.
The ancient Egyptians had a tradition of mummifying a wide range of animals, with many specimens discovered at different archaeological sites in the country. These include cats, ibises, birds of prey, baboons, dogs, and crocodiles. This practice held spiritual significance, as the animal mummies were used as offerings to the worshiped gods or were believed to be physical representations of the gods, according to Bea De Cupere, an author of the research from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences who spoke to Newsweek.
'Dome of the Wind' Site
Slaying the animal was not a problem if its mummification permitted the association of the human world with the divine sphere, as per the scientists. The ancient Egyptians believed that sacrificing crocodiles and mummifying them would be intermediaries between humans and the deity Sobek. This god was associated with fertility and was often depicted as a crocodile or a human with a crocodile's head.
The team from the University of Jaén in Spain has been researching the rock tombs at the Qubbat al-Hawā archaeological site, which served as a burial place for ancient nobles and priests. The site, named "Dome of the Wind," comprised terraced layers of sandstone and was used for burials from around 2,500 years ago to the Roman and Byzantine period. The team discovered a collection of crocodile remains, including five complete bodies and five heads, during excavations in an undisturbed tomb in 2019. The researchers examined the remains and published their findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.
Many museums worldwide have collections of Egyptian animal mummies, including many crocodiles, which were collected in large numbers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, these specimens are rarely examined thoroughly. The latest research aims to rectify this by thoroughly studying crocodile mummies. Additionally, crocodiles from recent excavations of funerary contexts are rare, usually consisting of scattered remains from disturbed contexts.
"Exceptional" Specimens
The undisturbed tomb at Qubbat al-Hawā is unique because it presents a collection of crocodile mummies that can be easily studied, De Cupere added. The mummified crocodiles found in museums are typically difficult to study due to the use of materials like bitumen and linen bandages. Special techniques like radiographs and CT scans are often required to examine them. But the crocodiles discovered at Qubbat al-Hawā were not covered in these materials, allowing researchers to study their preserved tissues and bones more easily.
The examination of the remains by the team revealed new information about the mummification process of these "exceptional" specimens. Unlike the mummification methods used at other ancient Egyptian sites, the team found no evidence of special techniques like removing organs or using bitumen. This suggests that the method used to prepare these specimens is unique.
De Cupere suggests that the animals were initially left on the surface or buried in a sandy area which enabled the bodies to dry naturally. After this, the corpses were wrapped in linen and palm leaf mats and taken to the tomb for burial. The scientists observed that some crocodiles were well-preserved during the mummification process, while others were damaged.
Nile and West African Crocodile
In particular, the five isolated skulls showed signs of being removed after the crocodiles had already been dried out. The scientists also measured the crocodile bones and estimated that they belonged to animals between 5.9 to 11.5 feet in length. The team determined that the bones belonged to two different crocodile species: the Nile crocodile (C. niloticus) and the West African crocodile (C. suchus); the latter species is not found in Egypt today.
They couldn't find clues about how the animals were killed or where they came from. There were no marks that indicate how the crocodiles were killed; all the marks they found seem to be related to the decapitation of dried crocodile mummies, not to the cutting of the necks of freshly killed animals. The study authors also suggested that several methods could have been used to kill the crocodiles that would not have left clear traces, such as drowning, suffocation, or prolonged exposure to the sun.
Based on the context in which the tomb was found and the absence of bitumen in the mummification process, the researchers believe that the animals date back to the pre-Ptolemaic period, before around 300 B.C. This suggests that the preservation techniques and materials used were relatively simple compared to those used in later periods, such as those found at sites like Kom Ombo. This could help researchers identify changes in animal use and mummification practices over time in ancient Egypt.
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