Paleopathology in the Piraino mummies as illustrated by X-rays

Abstract

This paper presents the first radiological investigation of a collection of Sicilian mummies held in a crypt beneath the Mother Church of Piraino, Italy. The chamber contains 26 preserved bodies of religious dignitaries, either conserved vertically in special wall niches or horizontally on wooden shelves. The majority of bodies are clothed, and transportation outside of the crypt was not feasible. Therefore assessment of the remains via paleoradiological methods appeared to be the most convenient approach to investigate this precious ethno-anthropological heritage. Radiological examination of 23 of these mummies yielded information relating to their funerary treatment and some of the pathological alterations associated with the remains. These included osteoarthritis, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, and neoplasms, as well as any trauma present. These analyses provided insights into mortuary behavior and the osteobiographies of these clerical figures.

A probable case of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis from an early modern crypt in Eastern Germany

“…Its actual cause is unknown; however, DISH is more prevalent in obese, diabetic and/or gouty individuals (Mays, 2009; Kiss, Szilagyi, Paksy, & Poor, 2002; Giuffra, Minozzi, Vitiello, & Fornaciari, 2017). The disease is commonly associated with ancient individuals of high status or clergymen, which followed a “monastic way of life” (Bondioli, Nava, Rossi, & Sperduti, 2016; Jankauskas, 2003; Kacki et al, 2018; Müldner & Richards, 2007; Piombino‐Mascali, Zink, & Panzer, 2017; Rogers & Waldron, 2001; Verlaan, Oner, & Maat, 2007).…”

A palaeoepidemiological investigation of osteomata, with reference to medieval Poland

“…Although the rational of Kaplan et al, (1994) can also be applied to cranial osteomata, Eshed et al (2002) suggested that, based on their histological features, these lesions be reclassified as hamartoma, a malformation that resembles a neoplasm but results from faulty development. In palaeopathological case reports of osteomata, these lesions are referred to as tumours, and the debate regarding their status as a neoplasm is either not mentioned or not discussed (Blau, 2006; Castro et al, 2019; Dąbrowski et al, 2015; Galassi et al, 2020; Giuffra et al, 2019; Licata, Borgo, Armocida, Nicosia, & Ferioli, 2016; Piombino‐Mascali, Zink, & Panzer, 2017; Premužić & Šikanjic, 2013; Odes et al, 2018; Smith, 2010; Zias, 2006). Bartelink and Wright (2011) seem to be the only researchers who did note this debate in their report of a mandibular tumour from Guatemala, dated to the 6 th to 9 th century CE.…”

Checklist and Scoring System for the Assessment of Soft Tissue Preservation in CT Examinations of Human Mummies

“…Despite its small case size for statistical evaluation, the example used showed significant differences between mummification types. These differences indicate that the embalming methods used for the anthropogenically mummified Sicilian mummies [ 14 , 31 , 32 ] produced an especially high preservation status of soft tissues of the head and spine including external as well as internal structures of the head, and soft tissue structures of the musculoskeletal system as well as peripheral nerves of the spine. Therefore, the preservation status seemed to depend more upon the topography rather than upon the kind of soft tissue in these cases.…”