ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Anthropology

Scientists find intact, 4,000-year-old human brain boiled inside its own skull

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
October 9, 2013
in Anthropology, Archaeology
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

RelatedPosts

‘Self-aware’, predatory, digital slug mimics the behavior of the animal it was modeled on
Head banging can hammer the brain
Forensic experts reconstruct the face of a 2,300 year old Egyptian mummy
Ancient haute cuisine — Mesolithic people had caviar feast

It may not look like much, but this weird looking coal-like thing is actually a 4.000 year old preserved brain, which was “scorched and boiled in its own juices.”

Source: Journal of Comparative Human Biology
Source: Journal of Comparative Human Biology

“The level of preservation in combination with the age is remarkable,” Frank Rühli at the University of Zurich, Switzerland explained, adding that most archaeologists simply don’t even look for brain matter. “”If you publish cases like this, people will be more and more aware that they could find original brain tissue too.”

The brain was found in Turkey, in a bronze age settlement called Seyitömer Höyük, and it is one of the oldest preserved organs ever found.

“In 2010, an archeological excavation of a Bronze Age layer in a tumulus [burial mound] near the Western Anatolia city Kütahya revealed fire affected regions with burnt human skeletons and charred wooden objects,” the team behind the find wrote in their paper on the brain. “Inside of the cracked skulls, undecomposed brains were discernible.”

It’s unclear exactly what happened, but there was definitely a fire that cooked the corpse and the brain inside; the thing is, it’s just like every single condition was just perfect to preserve the organ this good.

Seyitomer_Hoyuk_Kazisi

The heat eliminated all the oxygen and the moisture from the brain, making its preservation possible. The chemical makeup of the soil — rich in potassium, magnesium and aluminium — was also crucial, reacting with the fatty brain tissue to form “corpse wax”.

“Neural tissues are quite distinct, thus having ancient samples would help to better understand adaptations but also [the] evolution of neuropathologies,” Rühli told The Huffington Post. “I think this is very important medically and has huge diagnostic potential.”

It’s hard to say now if any useful information could be derived from it, though researchers are optimistic.

“If we want to learn more about the history of neurological disorders, we need to have tissue like this,” Rühli elaborated.

Tags: archaeologybrain

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Mind & Brain

The Brain May Make New Neurons in Adulthood and Even Old Age

byTibi Puiu
1 day ago
Archaeology

Ancient Roman Pompeii had way more erotic art than you’d think

byMihai Andrei
4 days ago
Home science

What side do cats prefer to sleep on? The left side, and there’s a good reason for that

byMihai Andrei
1 week ago
Close-up photo of a tiny wasp.
Animals

Wasp Mums Keep Remarkable Mental To-Do List For Multiple Nests Despite Tiny Brain

byRupendra Brahambhatt
1 week ago

Recent news

Tennis May Add Nearly 10 Years to Your Life and Most People Are Ignoring It

July 4, 2025

Humans Have Been Reshaping Earth with Fire for at Least 50,000 Years

July 4, 2025

The Strangest Microbe Ever Found Straddles The Line Between Life and Non-Life

July 4, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.