This program will take place on the island of Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature, cuisine and architecture.
Program Highlights
- Visually assess mummy preservation and learn how scientists are involved in the conservation and preservation of religiously significant people.
- Attend lectures on a variety of topics related to mummification including crypt archaeology, the cult of the dead in Sicilian Catholicism, the role of sacred mummies in society, and architecture design related to mummification and preservation.
- Participate in cultural and religious events supported by the Department of Cultural Heritage and of Sicilian Identity, the town council and the catholic churches.
- Spend two weeks living and studying on the main island of Sicily!
Description of Purpose
The purpose of this school is to provide a firsthand understanding of mummy studies, but more specifically in Sicilian context of religious mummies. Students will spend approximately one week living and studying in a renovated convent, the Capuchin Convent and the annexed church in the village of Santa Lucia del Mela, Sicily. They will also visit crypts and catacombs in Palermo and the village of Piraino also located on the main island of Sicily. They students will participate in visual assessment of mummy preservation at these three locations. They will visit Sicily's newest "saint" (the Blessed Antonio Franco, 26 September 1585 – 2 September 1626), and learn how scientists are involved in the conservation and preservation of religiously significant people. Of utmost importance will be the need for all participants to follow the rules for human remains set up by the Department of Cultural Heritage and of Sicilian Identity of Palermo. They will have freedom to do visual examination of the mummies, but we will not do any invasive examination of the corpses. Students will attend lectures on a variety of topics related to mummification including cultural and biological aspects. Biological lessons include taphonomy of human body as well as intrinsic and extrinsic factors of decomposition and forensic entomology. Cultural aspects include crypt archaeology, cult of the dead in Sicilian Catholicism, the role of sacred mummies in society, and architecture design related to mummification & preservation. Demonstrations of specialized studies including, X-ray and CT scanning, paleopathology, facial reconstruction and microscopic study of dietary remains will also be provided as part of the curriculum.
Other Sources of Information Regarding Our Program
- Please visit our Facebook page, Mummy Studies Field School here.
- See our College of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources Study Abroad blub here.
- See our UNL Study Abroad page here.
