Stories from Sicily: Our First Taste of Sicily

Alexis has her first taste of anchovies.

Greetings from Sicily! Yesterday, students, faculty, and visiting scholars representing a wide range of educational backgrounds and seven different institutions met up in the city of Palermo. We had no major delays or lost baggage, but we are all thankful for having the extra day to recover from our jet lag that was scheduled in case of such travel complications this year. Students are starting to get to know one another and have already shared a few meals at some of the city's restaurants.

Today brought about adventures in exploring the city, but don't take it from me! This year, we will be featuring a series of blog posts written by our students to share with you their experiences. Stories from Sicily will summarize our daily activities and provide different perspectives and insights related to our time on the island.

Student Haley Carr talks to her fellow classmates about the concept of incorruptibility.

Please enjoy our first piece for this series written by Haley Carr:

July 21st, 2017

Santa Maria rests above the crypt.

This morning we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the Caffe Roma and at the hostel before heading out to the crypt of Santa Maria Dell'Itria of the Coachmen. We observed the many frescos painted on the walls, some of which date as far back as the 15th century. As we walked through, we saw the draining rooms where the bodies would sit for a year before being moved upstairs for three years and then to the main room where families could sit and visit with their loved one. The incorrupt body of Santa Maria herself was also in the crypt encased in a replica. We examined some of the skulls in the draining room and determined sex and age. It was interesting to learn that the bodies that were prepared at the crypt were ordinary people of the coachman profession and their families.

Karl talks to students about crypt construction and usage.

After leaving the crypt, we stopped for a refreshing granita before heading to the National Museum of Palermo. Many of the artifacts there were recovered from two cities that were covered in ash from Mt. Vesuvius, and they have allowed researchers to have a greater understanding of Greek and Roman culture. There was a wide variety of statues and pottery but we especially loved the turtles swimming in the courtyard.

One of the many beautiful stone artifacts seen today at the museum.

Students enter the courtyard at the museum.

Students also enjoyed seeing turtles in a fountain at the museum today.

After the museum, we stopped for lunch where we enjoyed a multitude of dishes such as pasta, pizza, and risotto. After lunch, we went to the dome to get a birds eye view of the city and take photos. We then went back to the hostel to rest or went out on our own to explore before we all met for dinner.

View overlooking the city of Palermo from the dome of an old church.

Students enjoy a view from the top of the city.

A view of the inside of the dome.

For me, the best part of the day was the crypt because I was very impressed with both its age and how elaborate it was. It felt very authentic and not so much like a museum. I learned a lot about the body preparation process as well as confirming my previous knowledge that I had learned online such as families eating meals with their dead and identifying incorrupt saints. I ate a lot of good food (Nutella gelato is the best!) and am excited to see what tomorrow has in store.

2017 MSFS students enjoy their extra day in Palermo.

Mummy Monday: Ask a Mortician Talks About Sicily's Rosalia Lombardo

Happy Mummy Monday, everyone! In a previous post, we've talked about one of the most famous and beautifully-preserved mummies, that of Rosalia Lombardo. (Check it out here if you missed it!) This child mummy we preserved by the famous embalmer, Alfredo Salafia, following the girl's death at the age of 2. She is amazingly well-preserved both externally and internally with all of her organs still in place.

Thanks to the phenomenal work of our very own, Dario Piombino-Mascali, we know quite a bit about this unique mummy. Salafia's secret embalming recipe was revealed through careful examination of the embalmer's notes and imaging techniques have shown the incredible preservation of internal structures. As the curator for the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo, the place where Rosalia Lombardo is interred, Dario has also played a vital role in the long-term preservation of the little girl's remains. Today, this precious mummy is on display inside of a nitrogen chamber within the catacombs to protect her from further damage by bacteria and other curatorial concerns.

Mortician, author, and YouTube host, Caitlin Doughty, recently released a new episode of Ask a Mortician that features Rosalia and her story...including Dario's crucial role! For those of you joining us in Sicily this summer, you will be learning a lot more about this mummy and her history...plus, you will get to meet her as part of our field trip to the Capuchin Catacombs! So, without further ado, I would like to share with you this episode:

Be sure to check out more mummy stories from Ask a Mortician
and Doughty's nonprofit organization, The Order of the Good Death!

Graduate Student Spotlight: Re-Introducing Ruth!

Ruth Grady will be joining us a second time in Sicily for the 2017 MSFS. As an undergraduate, Ruth was one of our first students to join the program. After graduating this May, she will begin her graduate student career in UNL's Department of Anthropology and will be working with Dr. Reinhard for her thesis project. Ruth is excited to be returning to the island, degree in hand, as her first adventure during her Master's program. We caught up with Ruth to ask her about her involvement with this year's field school.

Hey, Ruth! What made you want to come back to Sicily to study mummies with us?

Last year I was unsure what to expect. I was so excited to be in the field school and I loved every moment. There was a lot to take in and I felt that I missed some parts of the field school in my excitement. Now that I know what to expect, I plan to pay more attention to the content. I also want to meet this year’s students and guest lecturers. Everyone has different interests and information. I feel I can learn from them because they have had different experiences that can be beneficial to me. The opportunity to study mummies daily for two weeks with Drs. Karl Reinhard, Dario Piombino-Mascali, Debra Meier, and Johnica Morrow is incredible. The daily experiences and instruction of topics related to the mummies is my core interest. 

How does Sicily fit into your thesis project and broader goals as a graduate student?
My goal as a graduate student is to expand my expertise in anthropology. I intend to do so through course work, field experiences, and research activities.

What are you most looking forward to about this summer's Mummy Studies Field School?

I look forward to learning the new things that were not taught last year. This year we will be visiting sites that we did not see last year. I also look forward to meeting this year’s students and guest lecturers. 

What are you most worried/anxious about?

Last year I had a lot of bug bites that I was not prepared for. This year, I will take extra measures to not have as many or any bug bites.

What are your plans following graduation?

I am currently a graduate student at UNL.  I will be working with Dr. Reinhard learning everything I can from him. I plan to take Archaeoparasitology, Pollen Analysis and Taphonomy in the near future. I am still looking for my niche but I have gotten closer to it with the help of Dr. Reinhard. I plan to continue into a Doctorate Program after my Masters.  

Who is your favorite mummy and why? Is this different from prior to the 2016 MSFS?
I no longer have a favorite mummy. Last year, my favorite mummy was the Lady of Dai, a Chinese mummy. But, after learning more about mummies, I realize that each mummy is unique. We can learn so much about a mummy and each one has a different story to tell that is special. 

Mummy Monday: Giving a Face to the Name, Nebiri

The mummified head of Nebiri
(Photocredit: Francesca Lallo)

Live Science just put out a great article discussing the reconstruction of the face and brain of a 3,500-year-old Egyptian mummy. The remains of the mummy included a beautifully preserved head and canopic jars containing internal organs, all of which belong to an Egyptian dignitary named Nebiri. Nebiri lived under the reign of Thutmoses III during the 18th Dynasty.

Two years ago, this mummy had been diagnosed with the oldest reported case of chronic heart failure. He had died sometime between the ages of 45 and 60 years and his remains were desecrated when his tomb was plundered in antiquity. What was left of this mummy was found by Ernesto Schiaparelli in 1904. Those remains are now housed in the Egyptian Museum in Turin.

Facial reconstruction of Nebiri
(Photo Credit: Philippe Froesch)

Using modern forensic techniques, researchers were able to reconstruct the face of Nebiri. They were also able to use similar techniques to reveal the patterns of linen bandage wrapping around the head. Combined with preliminary chemical data from the bandages that were presented at the 2013 World Mummy Congress, researchers were able to better understand the role that mummification techniques played in the preservation of these remains. Additionally, the intact brain within this well-preserved head was scanned using non-invasive techniques and reconstructed. The meticulous work of the Egyptians who prepared Nebiri's body gave modern researchers insights into the life that he led.

As an added bonus to this excellent article, the MSFS was mentioned by our very own,  Dario Piombino-Mascali in the article!

You can check out the article for yourself here! Be sure to note the name of Raffaella Bianucci, a co-author on this project who is also a scientific collaborator for the MSFS!

Student Spotlight: Meet Emuobosa!

Emuobosa Orijemie is a Newton International Postdoctoral fellow at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at the University of Cambridge, in the UK. He is also a member of the faculty within the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. His main fields of interest are Palynology and Environmental Archaeology. We tracked Emuobosa down to ask about taking part in the UNL Mummy Studies Field School this summer.

Hey, Emuobosa! How did you hear about our program?
Facebook

What made you interested in our program?
The content of the field school.

What are you most looking forward to about our program?
Learning more about Palaeoparasitology and Mummies!

What are you most worried/anxious about your upcoming adventure in Sicily?
Nothing really.

What are your goals after you finish your degree?
I wish to develop and improve my skills in the field of forensic palynology/archaeology, and impart this knowledge in my home institution, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Is this your first time out of the country?
I have not yet been to the US, but certainly to other parts of Africa (Kenya, Ghana, Benin Republic, South Africa), Europe (Italy, Norway, Sweden, Germany and United Kingdom), and Central America (Mexico).

Do you know any Italian words or phrases yet?
Grazie!

Who is your favorite mummy?
I don't really have one.

Student Spotlight: Meet Brianna!

Brianna Haberyan is an Anthropology major with a minor in Archaeology at UNL. She loves learning about history and is excited to learn lots of Sicilian history during the program. We tracked Brianna down to ask her about taking part in the UNL Mummy Studies Field School this summer.

Hey, Brianna! How did you hear about our program?
Through professors and friends in the same field of study

What made you interested in our program?
All the different aspects of mummies and the cultural practices surrounding them.

What are you most looking forward to about our program?
Learning about Italian heritage and culture through mummies.

What are you most worried/anxious about your upcoming adventure in Sicily?
Traveling abroad for the first time.

What are your goals after you finish your undergraduate degree?
I hope to work in the field of Bioarchaeology with JPAC or NAGPRA to help return individuals to their families.

Is this your first time out of the country?
This will be my first time out of the country.

Do you know any Italian words or phrases yet?
None yet.

Who is your favorite mummy?
The Korean POW Dr. Reinhard and I are researching.

Student Spotlight: Meet Alexis!

Alexis Kelly is a Forensic Science major with a minor in math and anthropology at UNL. We tracked Alexis down to ask her about taking part in the UNL Mummy Studies Field School this summer.

Hey, Alexis! How did you hear about our program?
I heard about this through my academic advisor.

What made you interested in our program?
I am interested in Forensic Anthropology. I hope to have a career in excavations and this was something that sounded similar to the type of environment I hope to work in.

What are you most looking forward to about our program?
I am excited to be in Italy! I'm also excited about working in the crypts.

What are you most worried/anxious about your upcoming adventure in Sicily?
I'm a little nervous about the flying. I have never flown out of the country before.

What are your goals after you finish your undergraduate degree?
I hope to go to graduate school and focus on Forensic Anthropology.

Is this your first time out of the country?
I have been to Mexico when I was younger, but never further.

Do you know any Italian words or phrases yet?
I know Spanish but no Italian so itll be interesting to see how that goes!

Who is your favorite mummy?
My favorite mummy and the one that is most interesting to me is Rosalia Lombardo. I am so excited to hopefully see her in person. In photos she looks so well preserved, she just looks like a girl sleeping. It is kind of creepy but I am all about creepy so it makes it more interesting to me!