Exceptionally Preserved 2,600-Year-Old Brain Found

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Exceptionally Preserved 2,600-Year-Old Brain Found

Posted by Soulskill on Friday August 17, 2012 @02:10AM from the fire-that-bad-boy-up dept.

TrueSatan writes with this quote from Discovery News: "A human skull dated to about 2,684 years ago with an 'exceptionally preserved' human brain still inside of it was recently discovered in a waterlogged U.K. pit, according to a new Journal of Archaeological Science study. The brain is the oldest known intact human brain from Europe and Asia, according to the authors, who also believe it's one of the best-preserved ancient brains in the world (PDF). 'The early Iron Age skull belonged to a man, probably in his thirties,' according to lead author Sonia O'Connor. 'Cause of death is rarely possible to determine in archaeological remains, but in this case, damage to the neck vertebrae is consistent with a hanging.'"

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Intact human brain? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-17 02:11 · Score: 5, Funny

"The brain is the oldest known intact human brain from Europe and Asia" – So I take it the brain still works?
1. Re:Intact human brain? by paiute · 2012-08-17 02:29 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Maybe after they transplant the brain in a brainless body, we'll find out why he was hanged in his time.
  Starring Christopher Lee and Vincent Price.
  
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  If Slashdot were chemistry it would look like this:Cadaverine
2. Re:Intact human brain? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-17 02:43 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Quick, someone send it to the Houses of Parliament! An intact brain there will revolutionise our system of government!
3. Re:Intact human brain? by ackthpt · 2012-08-17 03:16 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  "The brain is the oldest known intact human brain from Europe and Asia" – So I take it the brain still works?
  The card reads Abby Normal. Should be OK, what could go wrong?
  
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  A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
4. Re:Intact human brain? by schlachter · 2012-08-17 03:36 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  The brain being intact at a gross level doesn't mean that it's intact at a cellular level...so I doubt the network topology of the brain is still in place. Besides, the brain has state which decays without active maintenance, so network topology alone is not sufficient.
  
  --
  My God can beat up your God. Just kidding...don't take offense. I know there's no God.
2,684 years ago??? by al3 · 2012-08-17 02:14 · Score: 5, Funny

But it's only 2012!
1. Re:2,684 years ago??? by ccguy · 2012-08-17 02:21 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  But it's only 2012!
  I'll use an analogy to explain how this is possible. Imagine a game that is set in medieval times in which you are exploring castles 500 years old. The game is new, but the castles in it were old right from the start.
  
  God played the same trick with us. The universe is 6000 years old, but when it was created (when he inserted the CD, if it makes you feel more comfy) it already had extinct species, people that had been dead for a few centuries and so on.
  Clear now?
Re:Roughly 2684 years old? by ciderbrew · 2012-08-17 02:15 · Score: 5, Funny

Around the time he was hanged.
Zombie Apocalypse... by 25or6to4 · 2012-08-17 02:16 · Score: 5, Funny

Apparently the zombie apocalypse will last longer than expected if their food source stays preserved for 2000 years!
"a waterlogged U.K. pit" by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-17 02:51 · Score: 5, Funny

Oh come on. Why not just say London.