New research illuminates the horrific fate of a young man who died during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. The study, led by Guido Giordano of Roma Tre University, reveals that the victim’s brain was transformed into glass due to the extreme conditions of the eruption. The man was likely killed by a fast-moving cloud of gas with a temperature exceeding 500°C.

The remains, discovered in 1961, gained renewed attention in 2020 when researchers confirmed the presence of vitrified brain matter. This revelation marks the only known instance of vitrified brain matter found at any archaeological site to date, making it a unique and invaluable source of facts about the eruption’s impact.

The study, published in scientific Reports, delves into the specific sequence of events that could have led to the vitrification of organic matter. It explores the rapid heating and cooling process required to transform the man’s brain into glass, offering a glimpse into the unimaginable conditions that prevailed during the disaster.

According to guido Giordano,the lead researcher from Roma Tre University,the finding provides a unique window into the immediate effects of the pyroclastic surge. The vitrified brain matter offers scientists a rare chance to study the impact of extreme heat on human tissue at a cellular level.

Herculaneum: Pompeii’s Lesser-Known Neighbor

While pompeii is widely recognized as one of Italy’s most notable archaeological sites, its neighbor, Herculaneum, suffered a similar fate during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. Herculaneum, though less famous, offers equally valuable insights into Roman life and the destructive power of the volcano.

Founded in the sixth century BCE by greek traders who named it after the hero Herakles (hercules to the Romans), Herculaneum evolved into a thriving Roman town by the first century CE. The town boasted an elegant infrastructure, including a forum, a theater, elaborate bath complexes, multi-story buildings, and luxurious private villas overlooking the Bay of Naples.

At the time of the eruption, Herculaneum’s population was estimated to be around 5,000, comprising wealthy Roman citizens, merchants, artisans, and both current and freed slaves. The town’s proximity to Mount Vesuvius, approximately 7 kilometers to the east, ultimately sealed its destiny.

Unlike pompeii,which was largely buried under ash and pumice,Herculaneum was engulfed by pyroclastic surges,superheated avalanches of gas and volcanic debris.This difference in the mode of destruction led to distinct preservation conditions, with Herculaneum experiencing much higher temperatures.

Two Cities, Different Destructions

pompeii and Herculaneum, though both victims of Vesuvius, experienced the eruption in distinct ways. Pompeii, located about 8 kilometers southeast of the volcano, endured approximately 12 hours of pumice and ashfall before succumbing to pyroclastic surges – fast-moving, turbulent clouds of hot gases, ash, and steam. Pompeii’s destruction occurred roughly 18 to 20 hours after the eruption began.

Herculaneum’s demise, however, was swifter. The town initially experienced light ash and pumice fall, prompting many residents to flee. But about 12 hours after the eruption commenced, in the early morning hours, a deadly pyroclastic surge engulfed Herculaneum. This cloud of gas, ash, and rock swept over the town at speeds exceeding 150 kilometers per hour, instantly killing those who remained and burying the town.

The differing geological characteristics of the two sites also played a role in the preservation of remains. Pompeii’s ashfall created molds around the bodies, which archaeologists later filled with plaster to create casts of the victims.Herculaneum’s intense heat,on the other hand,resulted in the carbonization of organic material and,in rare cases like the “Custodian,” vitrification.

The Science Behind the Preservation

The differing circumstances of the eruption led to distinct preservation methods for the victims in each town. In Pompeii, the ash hardened around the bodies, allowing archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli to develop a technique in the 1860s for creating plaster casts that captured the victims’ final moments.

In contrast, Herculaneum experienced extreme heat, ranging from 400 to 500°C, from the pyroclastic surges, resulting in instant death. The skeletal remains exhibit signs of thermal shock, including skulls fractured from boiling brain tissue and rapidly carbonized flesh.

Victims discovered in boat houses and along the shore in the 1980s suggest that they perished while attempting to escape by sea.

The discovery of the vitrified brain matter in Herculaneum adds another layer to our understanding of the preservation processes at work. It highlights the potential for extreme heat to not only destroy but also, under specific conditions, to preserve organic material in unique ways.

The Discovery of “the Custodian”

In 1961, Italian archaeologist Amedeo Maiuri unearthed a skeleton in a small room within the College of the Augustales, a public building dedicated to emperor worship.The individual, lying face-down on the charred remains of a wooden bed, was identified as a male approximately 20 years old. Maiuri dubbed him “the custodian” of the Augustales.

What set this skeleton apart was the presence of glassy, black material within the cranial cavity, a phenomenon previously unseen at either Herculaneum or Pompeii. This unusual discovery sparked further inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death and the unique preservation of his brain.

In 2020, a team of scientists, including anthropologist pierpaolo Petrone and volcanologist Guido Giordano, conducted the first thorough study of the glassy material. Using a scanning electron microscope and neural network image-processing, they identified traces of brain cells, axons, and myelin within the sample.

Petrone and Giordano concluded that the transformation of the man’s brain tissue into glass resulted from its sudden exposure to intense volcanic ash followed by a rapid temperature decrease.

The location of “The Custodian” within the College of the Augustales suggests he may have been a caretaker or religious official responsible for maintaining the building. His final moments, lying on a bed, paint a picture of the chaos and terror that gripped Herculaneum during the eruption.

Unraveling the vitrification Process

The follow-up study, published in Scientific Reports, provides a more detailed analysis of the vitrification process. Scientists estimate that the brain’s transformation into glass required a temperature exceeding 510°C, followed by rapid cooling.

The researchers propose a scenario in which the victim was engulfed by the fast-moving, extremely hot ash cloud of the pyroclastic surge.The brain rapidly heated to above 510°C. The skull’s thick bones likely shielded the brain tissue from vaporizing.

within minutes, the ash cloud dissipated, and the temperature rapidly dropped to around 510°C, a temperature conducive to vitrification. The researchers also suggest that the brain’s fragmentation facilitated rapid cooling and subsequent vitrification.

In the eruption’s final phase, Herculaneum was buried under thick, lower-temperature deposits, preserving the man’s remains in a cement-like material. The vitrification process resulted in the preservation of intricate neural structures,including neurons and axons.

The rapid cooling is believed to have been crucial in preventing the complete combustion of the brain tissue. The specific chemical composition of the volcanic ash may have also played a role in the vitrification process, acting as a catalyst in the transformation.

A Significant Contribution to Science

This research represents a significant advancement in scientific understanding. After centuries of archaeological exploration, this remains the only known instance of human brain matter preserved through vitrification.

The discovery provides valuable insights into the dynamics of pyroclastic surges and their impact on human remains. It also opens up new avenues for research into the effects of extreme heat on biological tissues,with potential applications in forensic science and other fields.

The vitrified brain of “The Custodian” stands as a testament to the destructive power of Mount Vesuvius and the remarkable ways in which nature can both destroy and preserve.