2,000+ year-old human brain discovered in York

Archaeologists in York, England have unearthed the oldest surviving human brain in Britain (believed to also be one of the oldest found anywhere in the world). “Dating back at least 2000 years to the Iron Age,” the find is in the form of brain tissue remaining inside a human skull found in excavations at an extension to the university campus in the area of Heslington.

The skull was discovered, alone, inside a muddy pit. According to a press release offered by the University of York, the context of the find strongly suggests a date as far back as 300 BC, placing the remains within the pre-Roman Iron Age of northern Britain.

Rachel Cubitt, Finds Officer for York Archaeological Trust, noticed the brain material during cleaning of the skull. As she removed soil from the skull’s outer surface, something moved inside, leading her to look through the base of the skull. Inside she saw “an unusual yellow substance.”

“It jogged my memory of a university lecture on the rare survival of ancient brain tissue. We gave the skull special conservation treatment as a result, and sought expert medical opinion,” Cubitt said.

CT Scan of skull, (c) York Archaeological Trust

The skull was sent to York Hospital, where it underwent CT scanning. This scanning confirmed the existence of the brain. A Consultant Neurologist at the hospital, Philip Duffey, said: “I’m amazed and excited that scanning has shown structures which appear to be unequivocally of brain origin.” Beyond this confirmation, though, Duffey stresses the importance of investigating how and why the brain matter was able to survive. Adding to this, Dr Sonia O’Connor, research fellow in archaeological sciences at the University of Bradford, said: “The survival of brain remains where no other soft tissues are preserved is extremely rare. This brain is particularly exciting because it is very well preserved…and one of the earliest worldwide.”

This is not the first time York has been involved with ancient brain remains. In 1994, Dr. Keith Dobney and Professor Don Brothwell, of the Environmental Archaeology Unit at York, published a short report (PDF) on preserved brain material from a medieval skeleton at Magistrates Court, Hull. For excavations on the university campus, though, the new Iron Age brain is the second of two major discoveries at the Heslington site. The first, found earlier in 2008, is a Late Roman period male skeleton that may be one of Britain’s earliest victims of Tuberculosis.

It is believed the newly discovered skull may have been a ritual offering. Scientists now hope further tests may tell them more about the individual the brain belonged to by revealing why such brains survive death and burial and providing more information about Iron Age burial practices. As work continues, Professor Brian Cantor, vice-chancellor of the University of York, which commissioned the dig, said: “The skull is another stunning discovery and its further study will provide us with incomparable insights into life in the Iron Age.”

Popularity: 5%