A groundbreaking study has cataloged more than 4,400 instances of preserved human brains, challenging long-held assumptions about the decay of soft tissues and debunking the notion that ancient brains are rare in archaeology. These brains, preserved for centuries or even millennia, are providing valuable insights into human history and evolution. Forensic anthropologist Alexandra Morton-Hayward, who spearheaded the research at the University of Oxford, combed through archaeological literature to uncover these cases. The findings not only offer a new perspective on tissue preservation but also suggest that brains might preserve better than other soft tissues, potentially revealing clues to our past. This research, which includes brains dating back 12,000 years, could significantly impact our understanding of human evolution and the conditions that allowed for the remarkable preservation of these soft tissues. The new archive contains thousands of these preserved brains, marking a significant advancement in the field.
The archaeological record is famously rich in stone tools but poor in soft tissues. But ancient brains are not as rare as is widely assumed, according to a new paper on ancient brain discoveries over 12,000 years / @ruthschuster https://t.co/CrvpbKEqQE
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New study debunks notion that ancient brains are "rare" in archaeology: Sensational reports of "unique" finds suggest somebody needs a thesaurus for their birthday, according to new archive of ancient brain discoveries over 12,000 years / @ruthschuster https://t.co/CrvpbKEqQE
Ancient Brains Discovered In 12,000-Year-Old Humans Are Last “Soft Tissues” Standing https://t.co/JijvbMfi0p
Toba supereruption may have facilitated dispersal of modern humans out of Africa ⛏️🌋🌍 https://t.co/YBoSrfnqos
From North Pole explorers to Inca sacrificial victims, preserved human brains tell countless interesting stories about the people they were once a part of. https://t.co/qAK5aMisrV
A volcanic super-eruption 74,000 years ago almost wiped out humanity, according to some accounts – but new evidence from a site in Ethiopia shows how people survived. https://t.co/EtiI6pqKWu
Fossil Trove from 74,000 Years Ago Points to Remarkably Adaptive Humans https://t.co/h9y19Zzex4
'Toba supereruption may have facilitated dispersal of modern humans out of Africa' (that's a very big MAY!) https://t.co/rD0639nZT2 via @physorg_com
New study debunks notion that ancient brains are "rare" in archaeology / @ruthschuster https://t.co/CrvpbKEqQE
Brains are soft and squishy—but they might preserve better than other soft tissues. That story, a conversation about eco-evo dynamics with Lucas Nell, and more of the best in @ScienceMagazine and science in today's #ScienceAdviser https://t.co/s7Hg1c3UJ9 https://t.co/uQgrpS1tV8
A new study catalogs more than 4400 known cases where brains were preserved long after death. @MortonHayward says these thousands-year-old brains could be a valuable scientific resource—and perhaps reveal clues to our past. https://t.co/t2fy2VNfAz
Forensic anthropologist Alexandra Morton-Hayward "began to comb the archaeological literature [&] found thousands of cases in which human brains had been preserved for centuries, or even millennia" https://t.co/aZ56mfo7TA
“12,000-Year-Old Preserved Human Brains Defy Soft Tissue Decay Assumptions” Article: https://t.co/VubGMQZsMr
More than 1000 human brains have been naturally preserved for hundreds or thousands of years even when all other soft tissues have decomposed – but we don’t know why. https://t.co/pF5WPZFG77
Human brains have been mysteriously preserved for thousands of years https://t.co/auJ2WulBq9
12,000-Year-Old Preserved Human Brains Baffle Scientists, Challenges Decay Assumptions https://t.co/NhtW04K4fG https://t.co/tkHvsc3dGc
Preserved human brains from 12,000 years ago among thousands in new archive https://t.co/pk9lwAwpaD
New archive of ancient #humanBrains challenges misconceptions of soft tissue preservation @UniofOxford https://t.co/aR8ni6TOcA
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