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New evidence suggests that the intense heat from Mount Vesuvius’s volcanic eruption caused the brain of one victim to turn into glass.
This finding could be unique, according to researcher Pier Paolo Petrone in an interview with National Geographic. It’s rare for archaeologists to discover any brain tissue, he explained, as the brain usually decays quickly due to its low fibrous content. In rare instances when preserved brain tissue is found, it often undergoes saponification, turning into a soapy mixture of glycerol and fatty acids. However, in this case, the brain appears to have been vitrified—melted by intense heat and then quickly cooled, forming a glass-like substance.
Petrone and his team are uncertain about the cause of the brain’s vitrification. Charred wood found near the victim’s remains at the site of the ancient town of Herculaneum suggests temperatures could have reached up to 968°F (520°C). However, the rapid cooling that turned the brain into glass remains a mystery, and it’s particularly puzzling that vitrified brain tissue has only been found in one individual so far.
Petrone stated, 'This is the first known discovery of ancient human brain remains, vitrified by extreme heat,' in an interview with NBC News.
