Ancient Assyrians buried their dead with turtles
The reptiles may have represented eternal life, served as symbolic protectors
![Euphrates soft-shell turtle](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/032116_ht_turtle-burial_feat_free.jpg?fit=860%2C460&ssl=1)
TURTLE POWER Euphrates soft-shell turtles (Rafetus euphraticus), which still inhabit Mesopotamia today, may have been part of ancient Assyrian burial rituals.
R. Berthon et al/Antiquity 2016