OLDEST HUMAN BRAIN FOUND IN ARMENIA

press tv
Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:29:47 GMT

The skull that contained a shriveled but well-preserved brain
Scientists have discovered what may be the oldest preserved human
brain in an Armenian cave overlooking the country’s Arpa River.

According to Gregory Areshian of the University of California,
researchers found a trio of Copper Age human skulls, buried in separate
niches inside the three-chambered, 600-square-meter cave.

Researchers found out that one of the skulls contained a shriveled
but well-preserved brain.

"This is the oldest known human brain from the Old World," Areshian
said.

Anatomical analyses, conducted independently by three biological
anthropologists, revealed that the skulls belonged to 12- to
14-year-old girls.

Areshian further declared that the girls might have been killed in
a ritual ceremony by blows from a club of some sort due to fractures
identified on two skulls.

Areni-1 cave also revealed some surprising facts about the origins
of modern civilizations.

An extensive array of Copper Age artifacts dating to between 6,200
and 5,900 years ago was also found in the place during 2007 and 2008
excavations, Areshian explained.

Some metal knives, seeds from more than 30 types of fruit, remains
of dozens of cereal species, rope, cloth, straw, grass, reeds and
dried grapes and prunes were also found during the excavations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress