Mummified 3,000-year-old crocodile's deadly last meal uncovered in Manchester
manchestereveningnews.co.ukScientists in Manchester have identified the deadly last meal lodged in a mummified crocodile's stomach. The reptile is thought to be around 3,000 years old.
The huge seven foot reptile was discovered in Birmingham and X-rayed by researchers in Manchester. It is believed to have been mummified by ancient Egyptians.
Historically, animals played an important role in the mythology of their culture. During a full body scan of the fascinating remains, scientists discovered a baited hook in the creature’s stomach, as reported by What's The Jam.
And experts believe this could be what caused its death. “The presence of the hook and the fish suggests that the crocodile died soon after ingesting them due to the lack of degradation by the digestive enzymes," Lidija Mcknight, lead author and research fellow with The University of Manchester, said. “The apparent short time span between the ingestion of the fish and the death of the crocodile also suggest that it was deliberately caught in the wild. “And processed for mummification as an offering to the crocodile god Sobek shortly afterwards. "But it is still difficult to say the exact timelines of events leading to the crocodile's death.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk