Florida’s Windover Bog Bodies are roughly 8000 years-old, consisting of 168 ancient individuals that were found buried at the bottom of the Windover pond. Thanks to the peat down there, the bodies were preserved so well that scientists even found intact brain tissue in several skulls [785×1502]

> Windover is a muck pond where skeletal remains of 168 individuals were found buried in the peat at the bottom of the pond. The skeletons were well preserved because of the peat. In addition, remarkably well-preserved brain tissue has been recovered from 91 skulls from the site. DNA from the brain tissue has been sequenced.

> While some of the remains were mixed, about 100 undisturbed burials were found with fully articulated bones, in roughly the correct position and relationship in the body. Most were buried in a flexed position, on their left sides, and with their heads toward the west. The bodies were held down in the graves by sharpened stakes. The bodies were buried in clusters, in five or six episodes of short duration that were scattered over a thousand years. Thirty-seven of the graves contained woven fabrics which demonstrate a relatively complex weaving technique and indicate that the bodies had been wrapped for burial.

> The state of preservation of the brain tissues allowed a determination that the bodies were buried in the peat within 24 to 48 hours after death. This preservation allowed researchers to sequence DNA from the brains. The DNA indicated that the Windover peoples’ DNA “carried genetic markers that link them to ancient populations from Asia” and that “they do not match any native populations alive in North America today.” The DNA also indicated that one family had used this grave site for over a century.

> Gut contents were found with many of the burials. These included seeds of wild grapes, elderberries and prickly pear fruit, often in large quantities. The people’s teeth were worn down early in life, presumably from sand in the food, but few had cavities.

> Many artifacts that were deposited with the bodies were also preserved. Archaeologists were able to recover a total of 86 pieces of fabric from 37 graves. These included seven different textile weaves, which appeared to have been used for clothing, bags, matting, and possibly blankets and ponchos. Numerous other artifacts, such as atlatls and projectile points, were also found at Windover.

[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windover_Archeological_Site](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windover_Archeological_Site)

Probably the first time brain tissue has been discovered in any Florida resident, lol!!

I never knew Florida had bog bodies!