Paleopathology of the Natural Mummies of the Inner Abruzzo Region (XVIII-XIX Century)
Authors
Luca Ventura
U. O. of Pathological Anatomy, San Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila
Gaetano Miranda
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila
Cinzia Mercurio
U. O. of Pathological Anatomy, San Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila
Francesca Ciocca
U. O. of Pathological Anatomy, San Salvatore Hospital, L'Aquila
Gino Fornaciari
Division of Paleopathology, Department of Oncology, Transplantation and New Technologies in Medicine, University of Pisa
Keywords:
Central Italy, Paleopathology , Mummies , Histology
Abstract
The inner Abruzzo region is a land of mountains and highlands with cold, dry climate, in which we started a systematic search of human remains.
The five natural mummies found in the friary of San Giorgio degli Osservanti in Goriano Valli showed excellent preservation.
Paleopathologic investigations demonstrated goiter, prostatic hyperplasia, arteriosclerosis, pneumonia, pulmonary silicoanthracosis, and two neoplasms.
The series from the church of the Santissima Trinità in Popoli includes at least eight mummified bodies buried in a crypt. During a preliminary investigation we studied a 35-40 year old nobleman with poor dental status, costal fractures and a renal stone.
The recovery of mummified human remains in the church of San Sebastiano in Navelli yielded 206 individuals. The initial paleopathologic analysis identified parodontal disease, fractures, tumors, degenerative joint diseases and traces of post-mortem examination.
The presence of so many subjects represents a rich cultural heritage, confirming the great paleopathologic interest of the region.
