![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FTD43UETLNEF5ORTUUIG4HGHIA.jpg?smart=true&auth=a66dd8bbc7d879b2984aa7cc561887e7699e7ac2ba31aa8b5a2ca1e8f90ddbb5&width=400&height=225)
Five isolated skulls. From these it was calculated that the crocodiles were between 1.85m and 3.33m long. Photo: Bea De Cupere, RBINS
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T3A52Y46V5DTLOA3O7AJINVSCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=84706144b5523852b3b798dc629ab4cef0ba766da5bb0b37724a2e975485a0ed&width=400&height=225)
Researchers Bea De Cupere and Wim Van Neer of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences measuring and studying the specimens on site. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZMTGQ5JD6FETPA4DFGFTM5ZH24.jpg?smart=true&auth=4baf42276e8ddc5d2b7ab05071741b3a17dcbaee66fdb672a65383d132b2e388&width=400&height=225)
The specimens were found at the foot of an ancient rock tomb. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I36DHD4CYFDPPHO2D2NXRMYGDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=523927a19ab4d3b1318e675d18c93453e6fbc107fe08cc2f19ed881ce47b01c1&width=400&height=225)
Researchers believe the crocodiles had been laid in sand, which allowed the bodies to dry out naturally. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BYBWUW4DT5FCTAESNRQCOCNBBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=797e0e07d2e7933110c690a7446c21855465b2238b88bbb70a1c5f1d76c8faf8&width=400&height=225)
The skull of one of the largest crocodiles found at Qubbat al-Hawa. Photo: Bea De Cupere, RBINS
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6WF75VYDGJCYZPIETBFBF3BOAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=009aeb7905a6793d9ff09eb11e3ac2a29854e76fbff590790b5712b891a5ef0e&width=400&height=225)
The crocodiles did not display any sign of physical injury, leading researchers to speculate they had been killed by drowning, suffocation or overheating in the hot Egyptian sun. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3UHRZ2OKRREPFP4AEURK6P2F2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=0df2a47ee1a95371a7eb7a807d4c4f46eb71bcce460c8534d596244cb04506dc&width=400&height=225)
Archaeologist Vicente Barba Colmenero excavating a crocodile skull from the tomb. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7PKQ5SJ3UFC7HAWRBYSYDZ5YBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=22e9b4d2c304e467f9d8cbfca66f3d8e601ce1c024c287d1342b508f83cb5c09&width=400&height=225)
An overview of some of the Qubbat al-Hawa tombs, including the crocodile crypt on the right. Photo: Jose Luis Perez Garcia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VUS5PFUBOFAOJCCTR3VPAHWTAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2fc0b03d34efa8dbb352a62edf405e2bf95d630a9afdf5aed658fc887c51531&width=400&height=225)
It is thought the ancient Egyptians used the bodies as gifts to the crocodile Gods, such as the reptile-headed Sobek. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M3LE3NV5KJCWJDXKVNFQYR3SVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b109d262c3ffa2fedec444cca948d0c9baf78616e2fcba0d4c3a751deaf30cda&width=400&height=225)
The amazing find in the undisturbed tomb. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FTD43UETLNEF5ORTUUIG4HGHIA.jpg?smart=true&auth=a66dd8bbc7d879b2984aa7cc561887e7699e7ac2ba31aa8b5a2ca1e8f90ddbb5&width=400&height=225)
Five isolated skulls. From these it was calculated that the crocodiles were between 1.85m and 3.33m long. Photo: Bea De Cupere, RBINS
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T3A52Y46V5DTLOA3O7AJINVSCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=84706144b5523852b3b798dc629ab4cef0ba766da5bb0b37724a2e975485a0ed&width=400&height=225)
Researchers Bea De Cupere and Wim Van Neer of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences measuring and studying the specimens on site. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZMTGQ5JD6FETPA4DFGFTM5ZH24.jpg?smart=true&auth=4baf42276e8ddc5d2b7ab05071741b3a17dcbaee66fdb672a65383d132b2e388&width=400&height=225)
The specimens were found at the foot of an ancient rock tomb. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/I36DHD4CYFDPPHO2D2NXRMYGDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=523927a19ab4d3b1318e675d18c93453e6fbc107fe08cc2f19ed881ce47b01c1&width=400&height=225)
Researchers believe the crocodiles had been laid in sand, which allowed the bodies to dry out naturally. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BYBWUW4DT5FCTAESNRQCOCNBBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=797e0e07d2e7933110c690a7446c21855465b2238b88bbb70a1c5f1d76c8faf8&width=400&height=225)
The skull of one of the largest crocodiles found at Qubbat al-Hawa. Photo: Bea De Cupere, RBINS
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6WF75VYDGJCYZPIETBFBF3BOAY.jpg?smart=true&auth=009aeb7905a6793d9ff09eb11e3ac2a29854e76fbff590790b5712b891a5ef0e&width=400&height=225)
The crocodiles did not display any sign of physical injury, leading researchers to speculate they had been killed by drowning, suffocation or overheating in the hot Egyptian sun. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3UHRZ2OKRREPFP4AEURK6P2F2A.jpg?smart=true&auth=0df2a47ee1a95371a7eb7a807d4c4f46eb71bcce460c8534d596244cb04506dc&width=400&height=225)
Archaeologist Vicente Barba Colmenero excavating a crocodile skull from the tomb. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7PKQ5SJ3UFC7HAWRBYSYDZ5YBY.jpg?smart=true&auth=22e9b4d2c304e467f9d8cbfca66f3d8e601ce1c024c287d1342b508f83cb5c09&width=400&height=225)
An overview of some of the Qubbat al-Hawa tombs, including the crocodile crypt on the right. Photo: Jose Luis Perez Garcia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VUS5PFUBOFAOJCCTR3VPAHWTAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2fc0b03d34efa8dbb352a62edf405e2bf95d630a9afdf5aed658fc887c51531&width=400&height=225)
It is thought the ancient Egyptians used the bodies as gifts to the crocodile Gods, such as the reptile-headed Sobek. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M3LE3NV5KJCWJDXKVNFQYR3SVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b109d262c3ffa2fedec444cca948d0c9baf78616e2fcba0d4c3a751deaf30cda&width=400&height=225)
The amazing find in the undisturbed tomb. Photo: Patricia Mora Riudavets
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FTD43UETLNEF5ORTUUIG4HGHIA.jpg?smart=true&auth=a66dd8bbc7d879b2984aa7cc561887e7699e7ac2ba31aa8b5a2ca1e8f90ddbb5&width=400&height=225)
Five isolated skulls. From these it was calculated that the crocodiles were between 1.85m and 3.33m long. Photo: Bea De Cupere, RBINS