Santa Clara Convent discovery reveals rare saponified brains

Archaeologists conducting excavations at the Santa Clara Convent in Pontevedra have discovered two saponified brains within three complete burials located in the lower choir. This rare phenomenon, known as cadaveric saponification, occurs when body fat transforms into a waxy, soap-like substance called adipocere under humid, anaerobic conditions.

The discovery is considered highly exceptional on a global scale. While similar remains have been found in Chile, Argentina, and Italy, these findings may represent the first documented cases of this nature in the Iberian Peninsula within the estimated timeframe of the 16th to 19th centuries.

The remains were extracted by forensic anthropologist and archaeologist Clara Veiga from the A Citania team. The specimens will be transferred to the Faculty of Geography and History at the University of Santiago de Compostela for histological studies to analyze their composition, structure, and specific characteristics.