Dr Sonia O'Connor, from the University of Bradford, Credit: University of Bradford and a representation of the skull generated from the CT scans taken at York Hospital. Credit: York Archaeological Trust
Posted on 12/05/2010 8:49:37 PM PST by SunkenCiv
The oldest surviving human brain in Britain, dating back at least 2000 years to the Iron Age, was unearthed during excavations on the site of the University of York's campus expansion at Heslington East in 2008. Archaeologists from York Archaeological Trust, commissioned by the University to carry out the exploratory dig, made the discovery in an area of extensive prehistoric farming landscape of fields, trackways and buildings dating back to at least 300 BC, and they believe the skull, which was found on its own in a muddy pit, may have been a ritual offering. The man had been hanged or strangled, then decapitated, and the severed head buried in a small pit. There may well have been an element of ritual to the killing... The find is the second major discovery during archaeological investigations on the site of the University's £500 million campus expansion. Earlier this year, a team from the University's Department of Archaeology unearthed the skeleton of a man believed to be one of Britain's earliest victims of tuberculosis in a shallow grave. Radiocarbon dating suggests that the man died in the fourth century late-Roman period.
(Excerpt) Read more at pasthorizons.com ...
Dr Sonia O'Connor, from the University of Bradford, Credit: University of Bradford and a representation of the skull generated from the CT scans taken at York Hospital. Credit: York Archaeological Trust
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I wonder what they will learn from it
“Oldest “surviving” brain, from 300 BC.”
Considering how the value of human life has been devalued over the centuries I can see how some consider that to be a logical sentence.
Sorry, that;s not a reflection on you, just the person who drafted this “piece”....
No pics of Helen Thomas please!
The victim must have been the first to complain or protest against an overreaching, over-taxing repressive Roman government!
>> The man had been hanged or strangled, then decapitated, and the severed head buried in a small pit.
Hmmm - the way things are going in Londonistan, they’ll be back to that before long.
I don't know but it seems like all the ancient remains over there, like the bog bodies, died from extreme violence.
Clearly, this is some new and interesting usage of the word “surviving”, of which I had not previously been aware.
(apologies to Douglas Adams)
Helen Thomas clearly doesn't qualify.
This man could have represented the highpoint in English history. Look at them now, and weep.
Yes he was a good guy I was friends with him in the 80’s when we worked together in North Sea Oil Exploration, when he was a Geologist for Amoco UK Exploration Company.
Had a somewhat fossilized personality though.
You sure got that right!
Post of the day in my opinion....
Have to laugh. Hanged or strangled, decapated and buried in a sand pit for 2300 years and still survived.
I think we should install it in Joe Biden's head and see what it has to say. We'll not only get some interesting historical stories but a functional vice president as well.
You must be a Local Hero!
“The oldest surviving human brain in Britain...”
Rhetorical question for the author: You THIS surviving???
And then, well it is late and I probably am tired and all but, the article is about a skull, not a brain????
Ok apart from the little hurdles my tiny brain had to make, once again I appreciate you posting the interesting things that you post. :} I just shouldn’t try to read interesting things when I am too tired!
The oldest well-preserved human brain tissue in Britain, dating back at least 2000 years to the Iron Age...
That's really quite phenomenal once you get past the silliness of Mr. Unattributed's calling it "surviving."
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