Significance of Soft Tissue Preservation in Human Burials
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Soft tissue preservation in human burials can provide important information to scientists. Three burial sites that have yielded preserved soft tissues are discussed - La Cova des Pas in Menorca, Spain dating to 1200-800 BC, where scientists found various preserved soft tissues in 70 individuals; Windover Pond in Florida, US, dating to 6990-8120 years ago, where nearly 170 individuals were found, with some containing complete brains; and bog bodies found in Denmark, such as Tollund Man from 2400 years ago, who was preserved in a peat bog. Studying preserved soft tissues can provide insights into the lives and deaths of past populations.
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Significance of Soft Tissue Preservation in Human Burials
- 1. The Significance of Soft Tissue Preservation in Human Burials By: Heather Zimmerman Session One
- 4. Soft Tissue Remains in La Cova Des Pas
- 5. Soft Tissue Remains in La Cova Des Pas
- 7. Soft Tissue Discoveries at Windover
Editor's Notes
- Scientists have identified 70 individuals: 36 adults 6 young adults 28 children Technical point of burial: fetal position The burials at this site were so well preserved that researchers were able to determine that the individuals were buried in a shroud, wrapped with leather cords, and that a variety of plants were used in the practices surrounding their burials.
- Left: Lung tissue attached to the ribs. Right: Fecal remains in the abdomen of an individual.
- Left: Recovery from a femur with joint and muscle tissue attached. Right: Neurological tissue remains.
- Nearly 170 individuals were located at this site Fetus to 60 years old 50/50 adults to children The brains were shrunken to a third of their normal size, but the brain hemispheres and convolutions were clearly intact.
- The finding of such a large amount of ancient brain tissue made the find especially unique, and scientists felt they now had the opportunity to try to clone ancient DNA. In order to preserve the brain tissue, they removed it from the skulls as quickly as possible, and placed in plastic bags, which were then flooded with nitrogen gas. This purged oxygen from the bag and chilled the tissue. The bags were transported to a laboratory where they were frozen at -70 degrees centigrade to minimize degradation of the tissue. The remains of a female, about 35 years of age at death, was found who still had remnants of her last meal in her stomach--fish scales and bones, seeds from grasses and berries, and bits of nuts.
- The environment was anoxic enough to prevent bacterial decay and cool enough to slow decay or rot. The water in the bog also contained enough tannic acid which preserved the body's outer layers creating a mummified appearance. . The organic presevation of the body, in whole, was so good that it was possible to determine what he ate for his last meal: Porridge made of barley, linseed, herb seed, and wild seeds.
- Scientists have studied the Tollund Man in every scientific way possible. He has been examined via autopsy, x-ray examination, finger-print examination, CT scanning, and numerous carbon 14 datings over the years. However, it hasn't been possible to do any DNA analysis on the Tollund Man because there are thought to be no more molecules left in the cellular tissue. However, the tissue has been stored, but not preserved, in the hopes that it may be possible to examine the tissue further in the future.
- With soft tissue preservation in human remains we are able to connect the dots in our ancestry and our history just a little more. With the advances in science and technology that our occurring in this day and age, we will soon be able to complete DNA analysis on the Tollund Man. This will allow researchers to view the evolution of DNA from Windover Pond, which dates about 8,000 years ago, to Menorca, which dates to about 3,200 years ago, to Denmark, which dates to about 2,400 years ago, to modern DNA. The possibilities seem nearly endless.