“Uncover the mystery” of the most well-known Mummy in the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo

   

The first-ever comprehensive study of mummified children in Sicily’s famous Capuchin Catacombs is being led by Staffordshire University.

Dr. Kirsty Squires, Associate Professor of Bioarchaeology, and her team have been given exclusive access to a previously unstudied collection of children’s mummies housed in the underground cemetery of the Capuchin Convent in Palermo.

The Catacombs contain the largest collection of mummies in Europe, with over 1,284 mummified and skeletonized bodies dating from the late sixteenth to early twentieth century.

Children were accepted in the Catacombs from 1787 but while extensive research has been conducted on the mummified adults, the juvenile mummies have largely been overlooked.

Dr. Squires explained: “The Capuchin Catacombs comprise one of the most important collections of mummies in the world. However, there is very little documentary evidence about the children who were granted mummification and the ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ records from the period contain limited information. Our study will rectify this knowledge gap.

“Given that this funerary rite was mainly reserved for adults, we want to understand why the children were mummified. We have a fairly good idea that they were from the upper ranks of society but we don’t know much more about juvenile health, development, or identity during this period. This project will provide essential data to determine which children were afforded mummification and to put this into a broader context.”

“The Capuchin Catacombs comprise one of the most important collections of mummies in the world. However, there is very little documentary evidence about the children who were granted mummification and the ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ records from the period contain limited information. Our study will rectify this knowledge gap.” Dr. Kirsty Squires, Associate Professor of Bioarchaeology

The Arts and Humanities Research Council has awarded more than £70k funding for the two-year project which begins in December 2021 and will see Dr. Squires work alongside Scientific Curator of the Capuchin Catacombs Dr. Dario Piombino-Mascali, and experts in radiography Dr. Robert Loynes, Dr. Mark Viner, and Mr. Wayne Hoban. The project will be carried out under the supervision of the Superintendence for the Cultural and Environmental Heritage of Palermo.

The project will pioneer non-invasive methods – as opposed to destructive techniques such as autopsy – to analyze the remains of forty-one mummified children from the 19th century.

This will involve using portable X-ray units to capture digital images of each child from head to toe. In total, 574 radiographs will be taken to help estimate their age and sex plus identify any pathological and traumatic lesions.

As photography is prohibited in the Catacombs and the subject matter is highly sensitive, artist Eduardo Hernandez will produce illustrations of the juvenile mummies to be shared alongside journal articles, lectures, a blog, and teaching packs translated into both Italian and English.

Dr. Squires added: “This is a really exciting opportunity to learn more about life in late modern Sicily. There is currently limited information about the mummification of children in the Catacombs meaning there is little context to the display of juvenile mummies. Our research will help tourists and the wider public learn more about the children housed in the Catacombs and the cultural significance of this mortuary rite.”

Related Posts

“Explore the Reality: Do Ancient Etchings Suggest Encounters with Extraterrestrial Beings? Delve into the Enigma and Uncover the Truth behind Ancient Inscriptions.”-davinci

Claims sυggestiпg that aпcieпt carviпgs depict spacecraft or advaпced techпology sυpposedly created by alieпs lack credible archaeological or scieпtific evideпce. Sυch iпterpretatioпs ofteп fall withiп the realm…

Discovering a lost treasure under a mythological snake’s protection in a desert terrain.

Embarking on a tһгіɩɩіпɡ treasure һᴜпt, adventurers discovered an іпсгedіЬɩe amount of gold! Guided by a fascinating ɩeɡeпd and aided by a guardian snake, they uncovered unimaginable…

Golden Temptation: The Allure of the Greatest Hidden Treasure of Ancient Rome.

Aпd it was so that iп the process of exchaпgiпg views oп the materials pυblished iп the HE, it tυrпed oυt that qυite a sigпificaпt part of…

If there were giaпts, where did they go?-davinci

I have always beeп fasciпated by the stories of giaпts, the giaпt iп Jack aпd the Beaпstalk, the giaпt laпterп geпie iп the tales of the Thoυsaпd…

Uпveiliпg History: Qiпg Dyпasty Female Corpse Uпearthed iп Jiпgzhoυ Lυjiaoshaп Tomb.-davinci

The bυilders were carryiпg oυt excavatioп works wheп they came across the maп’s body, dressed iп fiпe fabrics aпd laid to rest with his favoυrite faп. The…

The intelligent dog traveling via a mystical portal to a priceless find

Join the іпсгedіЬɩe tale of Chon, a dog turned treasure hunter. His precious find сарtᴜгed hearts. Chon, once a пeɡɩeсted and аЬапdoпed гeѕсᴜe dog, found himself on…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *