Details Emerge About 2,500-Year-Old Human Brain Found in England
- Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:11am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
- Print »
- Email »
Image of the 2,500-year-old brain.
The discovery of a 2,500-year-old in-tact human brain in England has scientists, well, racking their brains. But at least now they have some answers.
The brain was originally found in a decapitated skull in a muddy pit in 2008 during a construction project at the University of York. At the time, scientists had lots of questions about the find. And while many of those still linger, at least now there are some answers. Livescience.com shares what’s now known:
When it was found, the skull — which belonged to a man probably between 26 and 45 years old — was accompanied by a jaw and two neck vertebrae, bearing evidence of hanging and then decapitation. Cut marks on the inside of the neck indicate that the head was severed while there was still flesh on the bones, O’Connor said. There is, however, no indication of why he was hanged, and the rest of his remains have yet to be found. [...]
The skull has been dated to some time between 673 and 482 B.C.; Romans, meanwhile, arrived in the area in A.D. 71, according to Richard Hall, director of archaeology at the York Archaeological Trust, which the university hired to assess the site and handle the excavation in Heslington. This appears to have been a permanent settlement with ditches that divided the area into fields and walled parkways through which cattle could be driven, Hall told LiveScience.
A CT scan of the skull found in England.
“It was just amazing to think that a brain of someone who had died so many thousands of years ago could persist just in wet ground,” Sonia O’Connor, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Bradford, told Livescience.com. O’Connor has been assessing and studying the brain since its discovery in 2008.
“It’s particularly surprising, because if you talk to pathologists who deal with fresh dead bodies they say the first organ to really deteriorate and to basically go to liquid is the brain because of its high fat content,” she added.
In an upcoming article in the Journal of Archaeological Science, O’Conner and will reveal a list of other, similarly preserved brains found since 1960.
Read the full report from Livescience.com.
Popular Stories
MSNBC Host Snaps in Heated Segment: ‘What in the World Is Riskier Than Being a Poor Person in America?’ 677 Comments
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 631 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 522 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 360 Comments
Have You Seen the Giant ‘Sand Obama’ Sculpture in Charlotte? 311 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 125 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 175 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 146 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Scathing New Ad Capitalizes on Rep. Ryan‘s ’Fading Obama Posters’ Remark 124 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 125 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (123)
FLyoverman
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:28amQuick tell Igor…..
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:40amIs this Abby? Abby Normal?
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:22amIt looks like something on my pizza last night!
Report Post »mac410
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:22amRobert The Bruce was drawn and quartered. That is his innards were pulled out and his body cut in pieces. The pieces were scattered about the country in order to prevent them being used as a monument to the Scot freedom movement. It was a common practice for a feared foe way back when.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:26amFalse. Robert the Bruce died of an aliment, perhaps leprosy or some form of venereal disease, and his body, in toto, lies even today in Dumfernline Abbey.
You’re thinking of William Wallace I believe.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:31amDumfermline I meant to type.
Report Post »tierrah
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 12:04am@Ghost: I thought only the Bruce’s heart was buried at the Abbey? Guess I’ll have to do some research to refresh my memory. Thanks for the information.
Report Post »tierrah
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 12:10amMy bad, Ghost … his heart is buried at Melrose Abbey
Report Post »The Realist
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:16am“There is, however, no indication of why he was hanged”
And the brain (or skull) would tell us that how? Man I love scientists.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:45amPossibly that statement was a response to a “reporter”?
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:23amAn indication of why he was hanged may well have been found with whatever tools/artifacts/items were found in the same location as the skull in question. Some of the bog-bodies show clear indications of ritualized killing, for example.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:11amThe scarecrow of OZ is dead.
Report Post »Hickory
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:05amIf they transplanted this into Obama, we would wind up with a more intelligent POTUS than we started with. Oh, my mistake that was where he lost his. My, my he could lose anything.
Report Post »Eblaze44
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:03amThe Brits have finally found their brain – they should put it to good use.
Report Post »steve5150
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:53amIf the soil conditions are correct this can happen. Much like the mummified ‘bog bodies’ found through out Europe. I think it has something to do with the PH of the soil. If it is acid enough it won,t let bacteria grow so the flesh is preserved.
Report Post »Or at least I think I read that somewhere.
Stoic one
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:06amActually…dare I say it … Nova or Nature..on PBS ran a show on : European bogs.
something PBS is useful for.
Report Post »Dumb_White_Guy
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:50amSpock’s Brain !!! Brain is brain – what is brain?”
Report Post »John 3:16
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:44amMaybe Noboma could borrow it and pitch the telepromptor,
Report Post »positive1
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:40amFound in 2008 how convient, the archeologist who found it was involved in a similar discovery, years ago. It might be a con job something like this ( we are about to run out of funding what are we going to do! Don’t worry, i’ll go get something from the university and claim we found it, and they’ll continue to fund us) Sweat! have any old brains? It just seems fishy to me after 3 years to make public.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:03amactually it was …. just has to be within your area of tastes for information……Hmn…my choice of words….
Report Post »Spirit
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:40amI love the comments by others – funny!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:33amObviously no ancestor of Biden’s. Way too large.
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:30amLiberals everywhere are clamoring for a transplant exchange, even a long dead brain is more active than what they have within the skullcaps at present. And in a linked story, attorneys for the 2500 year old skeleton have moved to remove the brain from scientific study or transplant, stating that ” the skeleton desires only a restive sleep, nothing else.”.
Report Post »bassist237
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:30amJust add some whip cream. Yummy!! Actually, that is really a pretty neat thing there. Who knows, they will probably find a way to connect it to some robot, and then you would have a 2500 year old cyborg from the future.
Report Post »loadingmyclips
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:30amIt would be too cool if the prof. could hook it up and access its thoughts and memories. !!
Report Post »djohn78
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:29amWe must not tell the Zombies!
Report Post »starman70
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:27amRemains of the first Democrat liberal progressive!
Report Post »98ZJUSMC
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 7:13amScientists have determined that it’s last conscious thought was:
“Raise their taxes.”
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:24amLooks like a slice of pecan pie. What is this story about again? Blaze is on it around the world?
Report Post »must eat brains
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:22amIt looks delicious!
Report Post »Jonnycromp
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:21amis carbon dating a proven science?
Report Post »ProgressiveLiberalMarine
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:28amIt is, and measures up to about 62,000 years.
Report Post »Glenny_Glenn_Glennglenn
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:47amYes it is jonnycromp. But the mystery of how a child can graduate from high school and not know what you asked is still a mystery.
Report Post »BP
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:57amNo it isn’t – liberals just try to use it to disprove the existence of God and creation. Good luck with that one. This story just proves that oxygen is the big factor – This 2500 yr old brain can look days old – the reverse can also be true.
There is a reason that evolution is just a theory – never proven by any facts….
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:07amYes.
Report Post »The Realist
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:12amAbsolutely not. Carbon dating is an estimation like all science, and has already been mentioned largely used by liberals to try and dismiss God.
Report Post »ProgressiveLiberalMarine
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:16amCreationism is a theory as well by the way.
Report Post »ProgressiveLiberalMarine
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:19amCarbon Dating is used to create a general age, estimations that are pretty accurate considering the earths age.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:27am@ BP
I find that SCIENCE actually glorifies GOD. It is amazing what God has done. To look at the framework of this universe that we occupy is fascinating. To look at the STRUCTURE of life and yes, how it appears to have evolved, is BEAUTIFUL.
GOD IS SPIRIT. my body is NOT SPIRIT .
I find it sad that folks REJECT science, rather than those within that have an agenda.
WAY back when I was in college, many of the science texts in use at my school, had statements saying: Religion and GOD are beyond the realm of science. They have no interest in proving or disproving these concepts. You see, because Science CAN NOT do that.
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:23amIt is if you use a circular argument to support the dates (carbon and other isotope dating compared with geological strata dating, and the reverse). It has also proven itself to be wrong on many occasions where isotope degredation has been influenced by various other factors. Carbon, Argon and other dating mechanisms have been skewed, generally, to support what researchers are expecting, and hoping to support or find (misconstrued findings to support a theory).
Report Post »Mr Spock
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:42am@Teachermitch32
Report Post »Please tell me you’re not a teacher. The only misconstrued findings to support a theory on this site are from the fundamentalists.
booger71
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 12:13pmteachermitch32
The carbon dating was correct on this specimen +/- 2500 years
Report Post »Nobamazone
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 12:40pmteacher is exactly right
Report Post »BP
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 12:56pmTo Stoic One, Progressive Liberal Marine, Booger 71,
I worship the creator – not the created. When one of you can explain how the intricate workings of a simple protozoa somehow magically formed on its own (billions of years or not) then I think you might have some arguement. Here’s a challenge – dismantle all the parts of a car then take a plane ride and thrown them out – see if by some random chance does it all fall together to form a car.
And oh – by the way where did all those parts come from – did someone create them?
Hmm – that’s a mystery. Hmm maybe not.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 1:43pm@ BP
Ya know i can change a tire, the oil, starter, spark plugs, and a few other things. I understand generally How a motor vehicle is built. can i build one? No.
I find it sad, if i understand you correctly, how you appear to dismiss empirical discovery.
I have a question. This is not a trick.
How much TIME transpires from when God creates the heavens and the earth, and when Adam & Eve begin life ?
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:12pmHey Booger…I got your joke, even if others did not. That was funny….and thinking on your feet. Someone must have taught you well…..unlike others.
Report Post »BP
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:23pmOh Stoic one… So by your question I assume you are a creation-over-time person…
If you read the Greek/Hebrew- you’ll find that the same language is used throughout the Bible which uses the same words to denote “the next day”
And there was evening, and there was morning—the x day
I am not science agnostic. I believe fully in all the scineces. What I disagree with is the interpretation of some of the scientific findings. There are a huge number of scientists who do not believe in an old earth. I believe science proves this…
Report Post »BP
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 2:47pmStoic one – by the way – check out this link….There are many others like it…
Its a book called “The Case for a Creator”
http://www.ideacenter.org/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/1222
By the way – I used to believe like you do.
Report Post »tiredoftaxes
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 10:50amCarbon dating has been at least questioned. See scienceforum.com. They took rock from Mt. St. Helen’s after the eruption and carbon dated it as being millions of years old.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on March 31, 2011 at 4:57pmAre Carbon Dating and Carbon Credits related? If one Carbon Dates, does it have to be with someone of the opposite gender, or is Carbon Unisex???
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:21amNow we know where George Soros’ brain went off to.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:21amEither criminal punishment, or a ritual sacrifice, or the head of an enemy. Celts were notorious for doing just gruesome things to bodies of enemies after a battle, and they had plenty of battles in Britain prior to the Germanic Angles/Saxons/Jutes arriving. Given the dates this would have been the absolute heyday of the druids, who were just giddy about human sacrifice under the ol’ groves of trees.
Report Post »flyoverbob
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:29amThis is also a common occorance in NYC & LA
Report Post »exdem
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:08amNot to mention beheadings in the Middle East.
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:19amCool! A brain story! Looks like a mis-managed attempt at making dinner.
Report Post »Your Name Here
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:00amYeah, but where are the Fava beans and Chanti?
Report Post »PavZilla
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:18amSo that’s where Pelosi left it
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:24amThis is just what I need to see, right before breakfast….YUMMMMM
Report Post »mill
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:30amNOT MUCH OF AN ARTICLE…little i nformation without going somewhere else…sorry guys
Report Post »Glenny_Glenn_Glennglenn
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:44amHas anyone heard Glenn this AM on his radio show? He is really out of it – I think he needs a cheeseburger or something. He’s all scatter brained – forgetting words, losing his place etc. Geez Glenn, was it the carrot juice or what?
Glenny_Glenn_Glennglenn
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:45amWalt Disney should have stored his brain in swamp yuck instead of having it frozen I guess.
Report Post »winstonchurchill
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:52amLol!!!!
Report Post »1proudAmerican
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:55amAwesome, PAVZILLA. LMAO!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:13amThe scarecrow in the Whitehouse could use some of that. If He Only Had A Brain.
Report Post »theonounser
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:30amWhen she was 15.
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:42am@PavZilla
Report Post »Actually, is that her brain or a picture of her face?
Anti_Spock
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:20amThe victim was beheaded. I didn’t know radical muslims were around then.
Report Post »Hisemiester
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 12:07pmCheez, I was thinking the same thing!
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 12:11pm” Romans, meanwhile, arrived in the area in A.D. 71, according to Richard Hall, director of archaeology at the York Archaeological Trust”
Report Post »I don’t care who this guy is or who he works for, he needs to learn his history. In 71AD, the Romans tore down the Second Temple, however, the Romans had been around for longer than that since the Romans were in charge of all the land everywhere around there when Jesus was born so the Romans had been there for at least 71 to 100 years prior to that. Maybe this guy otta give up his diploma.
GhostOfJefferson
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 12:33pm@GODSAMERICA
“I don’t care who this guy is or who he works for, he needs to learn his history. In 71AD, the Romans tore down the Second Temple, however, the Romans had been around for longer than that since the Romans were in charge of all the land everywhere around there when Jesus was born so the Romans had been there for at least 71 to 100 years prior to that. Maybe this guy otta give up his diploma.”
You’re correct that he had the date wrong. You’re not correct on how far back to go. The Romans conquered Britain in 43 AD (Emperor Claudius, fwiw). That’s not quite 30 years difference. Julius Caesar attempted it in ~55 BC but essentially failed. Celts it turns out are a race of people that just love to fight and defy conquerors, as Julius found out.
Report Post »randy
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 5:03pmQuick! Shove it in Obamas head. Can’t be any worse than the one in there now.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:49pmnope that is owe bama’s da………
Report Post »ottodiedacktick
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:49pmAccording to the Oxford History of Britain, author Peter Salway states on page 3: “Once Julius Caesar’s expeditions of 55 and 54 BC had pointed the way, it was more or less inevitable that Rome would try her hand at conquest.”
My concern is that this is just another case of a gross error on the part of academia. They simply don’t know what they are doing when they try to “date” carbon based artifacts of antiquity.
During the English Civil Wars of the mid 1600′s, a common method of execution was beheading sometimes after hanging. King Charles I was decapitated, in such manner, during this time period.
Don’t forget, these are the same type of scientists who claim that we are experiencing global warming, or is it climate change? Just because they say it‘s true doesn’t mean that it is! And God forbid (pun intended) you should tell one of these scientists that you believe in the Bible.
Report Post »ottodiedacktick
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:55pmKing Charles I was ceremoniously decapitated, but not hanged. He was sentenced for treason for trying to raise a “Green Army” to quell the Irish Rebellion. He didn’t have the Parliamentary authority to raise an army and he, therefore, created a constitutional crisis that led to the Civil Wars. Sound familiar?
Report Post »ottodiedacktick
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:01pm@Glenny_Glenn_Glennglenn:
I like your tone concerning Mr. Beck. How much is Soros paying you?
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:53pmI really hate to say this, but I’m hungry!
The brain had nothing to do with it.
Somebody talking about pizza did have something to do with it.
Report Post »Faith in God
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 11:03amlooks like a conehead brain…
Report Post »rappini
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 1:25pmNow Barry Soetoro has room for a conservative one.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on March 31, 2011 at 4:51pmSheesh, THAT‘s the FIRST time I’ve heard of a DECAPITATED SKULL! I knew that skeletons could be decapitated, but a skull???
Report Post »