Officials at York University confirmed on Friday, Dec. 12, that the archeologists had unearthed an over 2,000-year-old human skull with an unusually preserved brain still inside.

It was found on the York University campus, where archeological digging had begun as part of a planned expansion of facilities.

The area was prehistoric farm land, dating back to at least 300 BC.

Researcher Rachel Cubitt reportedly spotted the brain tissue while cleaning the skull.

"It jogged my memory of a university lecture on the rare survival of ancient brain tissue," she said, as reported by AFP news agency. "We gave the skull special conservation treatment as a result and sought expert medical opinion."