Ancient Brick From 2,900 Years Ago Turns Out to Be a DNA Time Capsule

Science Alert

By Davis Nield

August 28, 2023

For the first time, researchers have been able to extract DNA fragments from an ancient clay brick, demonstrating how these building blocks from times long past could be used to catalog flora found in the environment at the time.

When this brick was made some 2,900 years ago in what is now northern Iraq, the process would have involved mixing mud from the banks of the Tigris river, with materials such as chaff, straw, or animal dung.