School of History, Classics & Archaeology

The Capuchin Catacombs and the Sicily mummy project

Dario Piombino-Mascali from Vilnius University joins us to discuss the 'Sicily mummy project'.

Event description

The island of Sicily is home to a large number of mummified remains, dating from the 16th-20th centuries, most of which are located in the renowned Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo.

Since 2007, Dario Piombino-Mascali has headed the “Sicily Mummy Project”, aimed at scientifically investigating this important bio-cultural heritage and understanding local mummification practices.

Dario joins us in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology and will shed new light on mortuary practices and funeral variability in the region, as well as providing examples of the excellent embalming skills achieved in the 19th and 20th centuries.

An interpretative pattern will be provided, through comparison with the anthropological and sociological literature.

Event details Monday 9 March 2015, 5.00pm Meadows Lecture Theatre, doorway 4, William Robertson Wing, Old Medical School

Further information

If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Dr Linda Fibiger.

Dr Linda Fibiger

Lecturer; Human Osteoarchaeology

  • School of History, Classics and Archaeology
  • University of Edinburgh

Contact details