The Angioletti of Palermo: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Understanding the Lives and Deaths of Mummified Non-Adults in Late Modern Palermo, Sicily (1787-1880 CE)

The Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo (Sicily) are internationally renowned for housing the largest assemblage of mummies (n=1,284) in Europe. Yet despite the vast number of research projects that have been carried out at the site, the non-adults have never been a primary focus until now. This study adopts a multidisciplinary approach to learn about the youngest individuals in the Capuchin Catacombs. Alongside the use of osteological methods, a portable direct radiography unit was employed to capture images. These were subsequently analysed by specialists from different disciplines. It was revealed that the majority of non-adults (35/43, 81.4%) were between 2-8 years of age at the time of death. Harris Lines were only observed in 14.0% (6/43) of the individuals and there was little evidence of nutritional deficiencies. It was not possible to ascertain cause of death for any of the non-adults examined, though acute infectious conditions, that would not have left skeletal lesions, were rife during the late modern (1787-1880 CE) period and possibly contributed to the death of at least some of these individuals. Spontaneous mummification was more commonly practiced than anthropogenic, potentially indicating differences in social identity and/or status. Despite these differences there was evidence of prolonged care of the mummified remains in the form of repairs, which was most likely to prolong their display in an upright position. The results generated in this research have ultimately allowed us to learn more about social attitudes and treatment of nonadults in life and death in late modern Palermo.