Since 79 AD, when Mt. Vesuvius erupted catastrophically, researchers have studied this event. The recent discovery of a preserved skull with a glass-like substance inside at Pompeii and Herculaneum in 2020 stands out as one of the most remarkable tragic relics from the excavations. Scientists discovered this glass to be the brain tissue of a young man after it solidified, which represented a completely new scientific discovery.
The eruption burned Herculaneum with temperatures exceeding 900°F, which completely destroyed most organic substances. Brain tissue becomes liquefied and decomposes when exposed to such extreme conditions. A study conducted by Roma Tre University verified that the glassy substance inside the skull belonged to organic material, thus becoming the first brain to undergo vitrification through extreme heat transformation into glass.
The researchers think the man was resting in bed before superheated volcanic ash waves struck him. The brain boiled before it cooled rapidly which resulted in this rare transformation. His death position in the ruins acted as protection for brain segments, which enabled their transformation into glass instead of complete decomposition.
The exceptional fossilization enables scientists to understand better about historic disasters and forensic techniques and the effects of extreme temperatures on human body preservation. The scientific value of this find emphasizes how Vesuvius unleashed merciless destruction, which permanently scarred the land with the memory of cities that vanished instantly.
