Tag #Vitrification

How does the discovery of vitrified organic material in Herculaneum contribute to our understanding of the natural formation of glass and the specific challenges in creating organic glass?

The discovery connects the extreme temperatures of pyroclastic surges to the preservation of unique organic materials. The rapid heating above 510°C vitrified the brain and spinal cord tissue, a process rarely occurring naturally due to the specific conditions required. The skull and spine shielded the brain from complete thermal decomposition, facilitating glass formation.