York dig brings up record breaking find

Archaeologists excavating a site on the outskirts of York have discovered what is believed to be the oldest preserved human brain ever found in Britain. The skull which contained the brain was unearthed in a shallow pit located three feet below the surface in the Autumn. The remaining brain matter is though to be 2,000 years old.

Dr Richard Hall, the York Archaeological Trust's director of archeology told the Yorkshire Post that the find was: "A once in a blue moon discovery... The big question is how the brain has survived – we simply do not know at the moment. It is a great opportunity to investigate an area of archaeology which we have had very little chance to do before, and it could throw up some fascinating answers."

The discovery at the site at Heslington East is the second this year on the site of York University's £500 million campus expansion. Earlier in the year a team of archaeologists from the University's Department of Archeology came across the skeleton of a man - who, it turns out, is one of the earliest victims of tuberculosis to be unearthed in Britain. Radio carbon dating indicates that the skeleton dates from the fourth century AD.

Visitors to York can see remains and artefacts from various eras at The Yorkshire Museum in Museum Gardens and at the Jorvik Centre.

Independent minded travellers can enjoy the delights of the ancient city (which include The Yorkshire Museum and the Jorvik Centre) in their own time and at their own pace with the Best of York audio guide. Unlike a conventional guided tour, with the Walk Talk Tour mp3 guided tour of York, you can stop, start and listen again to any part of the commentary as you wish - or as the weather, your interest or your travelling companions dictate. To hear a short audio sample from the Best of York iPod travel guide please click here.

The Best of York city guide is professionally researched and produced. Listeners can complete the tour in two hours.

You can purchase the Best of York podcast guided tour in download format. (Then simply save the audio files and then transfer to your portable device and print out the tour plan). In addition, you can purchase the Best of York audio walking tour on CD in MP3 format. For more information please click here.

Visitors who do not have an iPod or an MP3 player can hire The Best of York travel guide from either of the city's Visitor Information Centres for £5.