X-Message-Number: 17593
From: "Jan Coetzee" <>
Subject: Ancient Brains may help 
Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2001 00:47:04 -0400

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Can 1800-year-old brains still contain knowledge? DNA from well-preserved brain 
tissue unearthed last year may provide new evidence for scholarly debates over 
the origins of the Japanese population, writes Sherri Chasin Calvo.


Aoya Kamijichi is an archaeological site on the Japanese coast dating from the 
Yayoi period, about 300 BCE to 300 CE (common era). There scientists dug up 
about 5000 bones belonging to almost 100 people, believed to have been killed 
during a revolt. While cleaning the mud from the skulls with a spoon, Tottori 
University anatomy professor Takao Inoue was surprised to discover the remains 
of tissue with a color and consistency resembling tofu. 

Brain tissue decomposes quickly, and rarely turns up at archaeological sites. 
Occasionally it is discovered in peat bog burials, but such ancient, 
well-preserved soft tissue had not been found before in Japan. Now, thanks to 
the particular combination of conditions at Aoya Kamijichi, including cold 
temperatures and soil consisting of heavy, nearly airtight clay, brain fragments
from two men and a woman emerged from their long burial looking amazingly 
lifelike.


After taking computerized tomography (CT) scans of the skulls, researchers 
removed the brain fragments. They ranged in size up to 300 grams in weight, or 
almost 25% of the brain, and characteristic folds and wrinkles were clearly 
visible. Electron microscope examination confirmed the presence of nerve fibers.
The brains were then stored just below the freezing point to preserve them for 
future study.

http://www.chemweb.com/alchem/articles/997691251099.html

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