"Unraveling the Mystery of Ancient, Well-Preserved Human Brains"

Alexandra Morton-Hayward, a forensic anthropologist at the University of Oxford, has compiled a unique archive of information about 4,405 ancient brains unearthed by archaeologists, shedding light on how brains can survive for thousands of years. The database could help scientists study brain tissue from ancient times and determine whether diseases known today were also present in ancient civilizations. The preservation mechanisms of these brains, including dehydration, tanning, freezing, and saponification, have been identified, with the possibility of a fifth unknown mechanism. The brains could potentially reveal ancient DNA and proteins, providing insights into the people to which they once belonged.