Did Mount Vesuvius turned brain to glass?
Petrone and his team argue that a wave of hot volcanic ash that descended on Herculaneum “froze” the man’s neuronal structures. Subsequent rapid cooling transformed the human tissue into glass. Preserved ancient brain tissue is a rare—but possible—occurrence, reports Jennifer Ouellette for Ars Technica.
Can a brain turn to glass?
Extreme heat from the Mount Vesuvius eruption in Italy was so immense it turned one victim’s brain into glass, a study has suggested. “This is the first ever discovery of ancient human brain remains vitrified by heat.”
How many dead bodies are in Pompeii?
Archaeologists have unearthed 1,150 bodies out of 2,000 in Pompeii’s wreckage, showing the past lives and final moments of Vesuvius’s victims. Unfortunately, the building that the plaster casts were originally housed in suffered extensive damage in World War II, and are now located in several places around the city.
What did Mount Vesuvius look like when it erupted?
Pliny the Younger wrote an account of the eruption: Broad sheets of flame were lighting up many parts of Vesuvius; their light and brightness were the more vivid for the darkness of the night… it was daylight now elsewhere in the world, but there the darkness was darker and thicker than any night.
What was unusual about the bodies found in Pompeii?
What have been described as the best-preserved human remains ever discovered in Pompeii include Secundio’s white hair and a partially visible ear. Initial tests show he died at about the age of 60. Archaeologists said the discovery was unusual because deceased adults during Roman times were usually cremated.
Where are the ruins of Pompeii located now?
A vast wealth of elaborate, well-preserved frescoes and art were found at Stabiae and are today housed in the National Archeological Museum of Naples.
How big is the archeological park at Pompeii?
The archeological park contain large leisure villas, featuring colonnaded courtyards, atriums, porchs and more, as well as residential villas with agricultural grounds, also referred to as ‘rustic villas’. Stabiae spans 150 acres and much of it remains unexcavated and unexplored: additional treasures are surely hidden just below the surface.
How many people go to Pompeii per year?
Pompeii attracts 2.5 million tourists each year and is one of the country’s prime attractions. Few people realize, however, that there are a number of additional sites that you can visit on a combination ticket. If you have the time, opt for a 3-day ticket which grants you access…
What was the Villa Regina in Pompeii like?
The excavated Villa Regina is an excellent example of a working farm estate and features remains of vineyards and a wine cellar; vines have since been replanted to give the effect of what the villa would have looked like in ancient times.