Mummified Crocodile

Mummified young crocodile wrapped in bandages. The crocodile was the sacred animal of the god Sobek. The cult temples reared large numbers of crocodiles for mummification. Date uncertain but probably Late Period through to the Roman Period. Previously in the collection of Mrs Manby (donated to Norwich Castle Museum in 1885) and has an accompanying X-ray photograph from late 19th century. The mummy was X-rayed again in 1995 for the exhibition, "Caught in Time" (1996-2005) at National Museums Liverpool’s Conservation Centre, the first permanent UK exhibition dedicated to explaining the work of museum conservators.