Perfectly preserved brain of Iron Age man

[Still Waters 53,564]

Archaeologists believe they have discovered one of the world's oldest brains that once belonged to a man in Iron Age Britain who was sacrificed in a ritual killing.

Scientists found the cranium in a muddy pit when they were excavating a site before a new campus was to be built at the University of York. When a researcher reached inside the skull, she was stunned to discover the soft tissue of the 2,500-year-old brain still preserved.

Fractures and marks on the bones suggest the man, who was aged between 26 and 45, died most probably from hanging, after which he was carefully decapitated and his head was then buried on its own.

Scientists have been baffled by how the brain tissue - which usually rots after a couple at years - managed to remain intact for so long.

'The survival of brain remains where no other soft tissues are preserved is extremely rare,' said Sonia O'Connor, research fellow in archaeological sciences at the University of Bradford.

'This brain is particularly exciting because it is very well preserved, even though it is the oldest recorded find of this type in the UK, and one of the earliest worldwide.'

Read more...

[Eldorado 60,634]

Good stuff!

[tipotep 451]

Thats cool , interesting that it survived for so long without decomposing ?

TiP

[d e v i c e 177]

Interesting discovery. If they like, they can transplant that brain into my skull and transform me into a 'bronze age man'. I'd like that.

Edited March 30, 2011 by Evilution13

[Ealdwita 6,771]

No mystery there. He's probably drank as much alcohol as I have in my lifetime and the brain tissue is pickled. (Like mine!)

[OverSword 57,854]

Wow, it still looks wet. When I read the headline I was assuming that it would be dessicated and ready to crumble but it really does appear to fresh.

[TheMcGuffin 68]

Very interesting that they now have the DNA of one of the pre-Celtic inhabitants of Britain, and that it's related to the original Etruscans and other people in the Middle East.

[27vet 62]

They could clone him.

[pallidin 11,071]

That is just plain freaky. Hope they find out how it happened.

[UFO_Monster 374]

The world gets smaller every day.

[torf 0]

Personaly, I think it's crap.

[UFO_Monster 374]

Personaly, I think it's crap.

And why would you think that?

[Shiloh17 1,385]

Hmmm, Zombie food last a long time I see.

[Persia 21]

A brain in near-perfect condition is found in a skull of a person who was decapitated over 2,600 years ago

http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/preserved-brain-bog-england-110406.html

[Soul Kitchen 20]

Interesting word choice. Interesting that "Pickled" and "Tofu-like" are used to describe a brain. Describing a brain as food...

What if a Zombie wrote the article?!

[Persia 21]

What if a Zombie wrote the article?!