Creature: PRISTICHAMPSUS
Main Location: British Museum / London
When an exhibition of ancient Egyptian relics comes to the British Museum, an anomaly opens in a mysterious monument called the ‘Sun Cage’. A creature emerges from it - a Pristichampsus, a kind of monstrous crocodile that can run on two legs. This creature, which comes from a past much more distant than the Egypt of the Pharaohs, somehow became worshipped as a god in that civilization, and is now portrayed in the hieroglyphics on the Sun Cage.
The murderous creature wreaks havoc in the museum before escaping into the city. Helped by Sarah Page (Laila Rouass) the smart and sexy archaeologist at the museum, Cutter (Douglas Henshall) Abby (Hannah Spearritt), Connor (Andrew-Lee Potts) and their new Head of Security, Captain Becker (Ben Mansfield) must track it down before it claims any more victims.
A race against time ensues as the trio track the monster across central London, from the busy banks of the Thames, to the Southbank and Royal Festival Hall. Back at the British Museum, Connor and Sarah guard the Sun Cage and repeatedly attempt to prevent other creatures from bursting through. During their battle, Connor inadvertently ‘locks’ the anomaly shut. Unclear how or why this amazing development occurs he nonetheless feels the beginnings of an idea. He also begins to believe in the legendary curse attached to the Sun Cage and convinces himself he is next in line for the crocodile God’s revenge.
While the team are tangled up with the rather tetchy living legend, Lester has his own troubles when he is summoned to Whitehall by Christine Johnson. Described by Lester himself as a ‘velociraptor, only better dressed. Johnson displays a rather unhealthy interest in the work of the ARC. The meeting is interrupted by the arrival of a solider wanting to speak with her. Distracted she ushers Lester away and engages in a furious conversation with the military man. He shows her a photo of an ancient artefact and apologises for his failed mission to retrieve it telling her that he and his team were attacked by predators.
Can the team safely deposit the creature back into the past, where it can retain its place in Egyptian mythology without Ammut claiming anymore victims? Who is Johnson and what is her interest in the activities of the team? And just what will Cutter do with Sarah Page? She’s seen and heard too much to be dismissed by a Jenny Lewis (Lucy Brown) press release.
PRISTICHAMPSUS – EPISODE ONE
The Facts: Era: Eocene
Location: Europe and North America
Size: 3m (10 ft)
Diet: Carnivorous
Pristichampsus was an ancient type of crocodile which lived from about 56 to 35 million years ago, notable because not only did it have longer legs but some also believe it had small hooves instead of claws. In Primeval the Pristichampsus is slightly larger and with longer back limbs than the fossil version.
The Fiction:
An anomaly opens up at the British Museum in the middle of an ancient Egyptian artefact. Through this comes a kind of super croc that looks exactly like the Egyptian demon Ammut. Connor establishes that it is in fact a form of ancient crocodile called a Pristichampsus – heavily armoured and with long running legs making it very fast.