A caiman skeleton was found under the floor of a primary school classroom in Pentre, Rhondda Cynon Taff.
The rare caiman skeleton was found when the floor of one of the primary school classrooms at Ysgol Bodringallt, in Pentre, Rhondda Cynon Taff was lifted during renovation work on Wednesday.
Former school headteacher, Marian Roberts said she believed the skeleton was a caiman – a creature belonging to the same family as the crocodile and alligator, but with a shorter, broader head and longer and narrower teeth than some crocodiles.
Head teacher Dr Neil Pike said workers were “shocked” and “didn’t expect to find such a thing.”
He said local people had talked for decades of a crocodile being buried at the site.
“I’d heard a story that parents and school staff had buried a crocodile under the school some time between the two world wars.
“I thought it was an old myth and I didn’t take much notice until Thursday morning when I went to check the building work at the school. Laid on the floor of the hall was the crocodile.โ
Natural history conservation company, Pure Conservation dated the remains, which had suffered significant damage after so long unprotected, to the 19th Century.
After more than two years of restoration, the “legendary” saltwater crocodile is a prominent feature in the school.