A man’s brain turned to glass after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Researchers found dark, glass-like fragments in the skull of a man from the ancient town of Herculaneum.
Both Herculaneum and Pompeii were buried in ash and mud in 79 AD when Vesuvius erupted. This catastrophic event preserved the cities so well that archaeologists could study them many years later.
The remains were discovered in the 1960s in a building known as the College of the Augustales, a place dedicated to Emperor Augustus. This man is believed to be the custodian of the college. He was likely asleep in bed when the volcano erupted, with superheated ash engulfing the area and killing many instantly.
A recent examination of his remains revealed the glassy substance. Researchers noted this phenomenon as extremely rare, stating it is the first time such a transformation has been documented in human remains. The glass formed when the intense heat from the ash cloud, reaching temperatures of at least 510°C (950°F), caused the organic material in his brain to vitrify—turning it into glass.
Forensic anthropologist Pier Paolo Petrone, one of the study’s lead researchers from the University of Naples Federico II, explained that this process preserved the unique structures of the brain. He noted, “The glass allowed for an integral preservation of the biological brain material and its microstructures.”
Interestingly, the only other examples of vitrification found in the region are related to wood, not to human remains. Petrone carefully documented the findings, recalling how he first spotted the glassy fragments among the ashes inside the skull. He described them as black and shiny, similar to obsidian, but much more fragile. This discovery adds a captivating chapter to our understanding of the tragic events that unfolded during the eruption and the effects on the people of that time.
Check out this related article: How to Spot the Stunning Nova: This Star Bursts to Life Every 80 Years – Find Out Where to Look in 2025!
Source link