Organic Glass Found Among Remains of Roman Guard
A sample of the vitrified brain of a Roman guard after the 79 CE eruption of Mt. Vesuvius
Post Author- Ellis Nolan
One of the most dramatic events in the history of the Roman Empire was the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. It is unknown how many perished during the eruption and its fallout, however, haunting images of contorted Pompeiians frozen in time by searing gas and ash paints an image of hellish, alien conditions. In a bizarre twist of the otherworldly occurrence, scientists have found the only documented instance of a victim whose brain was turned to glass by flows from the eruption.
The remains of the Roman guard and the Collegium Augustalium relative to Mt. Vesuvius
The victim in question was a male guard stationed at the Collegium Augustalium within the Roman city of Herculaneum. Upon imaging the glass found in the skull of the victim with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), the scientists discovered multiple well-preserved neural structures, such as axons and neurons, visible in the sample. These discoveries helped them rule out other methods for the brain to have been preserved, since those structures would not be intact.
SEM images of the vitrified brain, the arrows in figure F point towards visible axons
For glass to form, a process called vitrification, a material has to be heated to an extremely high temperature, and then cooled, or quenched, extremely fast. In nature, this occurs somewhat often, such as when lightning strikes sand, forming fulgurites, or when magma cools, forming silicic glass. However, this is an extremely uncommon occurrence for material such as a human brain since organic tissue is mostly water. This means for it to be vitrified, it must be quenched below 0 degrees Celsius and stay at that temperature, lest the water return to its liquid state at room temperature.
This Roman guard appears to be a lone exception to the rule, even among the thousands of other human remains examined in Pompeii and Herculaneum. The researchers hypothesized that a stream of hot ash and gas, known as a pyroclastic flow, passed through the victim’s chambers at temperatures exceeding 500 degrees Celsius. This was followed by a much cooler (but still deadly to humans) and more widespread pyroclastic flow, which caused the rapid cooling of the subject.
This bizarre and unique occurrence is yet another example of the epic and otherworldly proportions of the eruption of 79 CE and the sheer power of natural disasters.
Interested in learning more about the Roman Empire? Check out our Rome collection here!
Featured Product
Dunkleosteus - Skull Fossil Fragment
Latest News
-
Jul 29, 2025 Scientists Discover First Ever Ancient Roman Trilobite! Read More -
Jul 23, 2025 The Hollywood Sign: The Story of a City's Symbol Hollywoodland Read More -
Jul 20, 2025 Denver Museum Finds Dinosaurs in their Backyard! Read More -
Jul 17, 2025 Building Disneyland Read More -
Jul 10, 2025 Neolithic Vegetarians: Learn About the Wooden Tools Used by Early Humans! Read More -
Jul 04, 2025 Viking for a Day: Researchers Recreate Viking Voyages! Read More
Cool Things!
Scientists Discover First Ever Ancient Roman Trilobite!
It’s well known among archaeologists that the ancient Romans had a reverence for fossils. For example, it is thought they believed mammoth bones and teeth were those of dragons and cyclopes, and thus, these items were often displayed in places of power. However, researchers in Spain recently uncovered an exceedingly rare Roman fossil artifact from an unlikely place.
Denver Museum Finds Dinosaurs in their Backyard!
For patrons of a popular Denver museum, newly discovered dinosaur fossils are quite literally in their backyard!
Neolithic Vegetarians: Learn About the Wooden Tools Used by Early Humans!
When you think of the Stone Age, scenes of Neanderthals chasing down great beasts of old for food and furs might come to mind. Many studies have shown the invention and development of stone tools were essential to early humans’ efforts to hunt animals, but according to a recent study, that perspective may have an overbearing presence in the perception of the Stone Age.
Specimen Deep Dives
The Hollywood Sign: The Story of a City's Symbol Hollywoodland
Building Disneyland
When the Sky Split in Two: The Tunguska Event
Long Form Articles
The Artist Behind the Macintosh: Susan Kare and Apple Computers
While the two Steves, Jobs and Wozniak, are the most well known faces behind Apple computers, equally important to the products and culture of the company were those who crafted the experience of using their computers through design. The most notable of these visual architects was Susan Kare, a designer responsible for “humanizing” Macintosh computers.
Can I Lick It? Yes You Can!
Have you ever been unable to tell if a fossil was really a fossil, but you were too embarrassed to admit it? Have you ever wanted to lick a fossil just because, but you didn’t want to risk judgment from your peers? Well, good news! You can kill two birds with one stone! Licking a fossil can actually help you determine if it’s the real deal or just another rock.
Is It Legal To Own a Meteorite: How to Start Your Outer Space Collection!
Meteorites are some of the rarest geological specimens to be found on Earth. Of course, since these stones are not of our world, purchasing them can sometimes be a confusing process. Is it legal to own a meteorite? In short, yes! Read on for help starting your cosmic collection!