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Santa Clara Convent discovery reveals rare saponified brains
Archaeologists conducting excavations at the Santa Clara Convent in Pontevedra have discovered rare human remains, including two saponified brains. The discovery occurred during efforts to rehabilitate the former cloistered convent and integrate it into the Pontevedra Museum.
During the excavation of three complete graves in the lower choir area, researchers found three bodies with minimal bone remains but preserved human and textile tissues. Two of the individuals possessed saponified brains, an extremely rare preservation phenomenon where fatty tissues transform in specific, typically humid, environments.
While exact dating is pending, the archaeological context suggests the remains likely belong to nuns from between the 16th and 19th centuries. The findings provide significant new data regarding the history of the convent, which dates back to 1271, and the city of Pontevedra.
Entities
Pontevedra · Pontevedra Museum · Santa Clara Convent · University of Santiago de Compostela
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Santa Clara convent was originally constructed around the year 1271. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.lne.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] The remains are estimated to date between the 16th and 19th centuries. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.lne.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] The discovery occurred in three complete graves located in the lower choir area of the convent. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.lne.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] Archaeologists discovered two saponified brains during excavations at the Santa Clara convent. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.lne.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] The remains are believed to belong to nuns who inhabited the convent. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.eldia.es · www.lne.es