Environmental necrophagous fauna selection in a funerary hypogeal context: The putridarium of the Franciscan monastery of Azzio (northern Italy)

Abstract

Reports is aimed at archaeologists and scientists engaged with the application of scientific techniques and methodologies to all areas of archaeology. The journal focuses on the results of the application of scientific methods to archaeological problems and debates. It will provide a forum for reviews and scientific debate of issues in scientific archaeology and their impact in the wider subject. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports will publish papers of excellent archaeological science, with regional or wider interest. This will include case studies, reviews and short papers where an established scientific technique sheds light on archaeological questions and debates.

Insights on Funeral Practices and Insects Associated With the Tombs of King Ferrante II d’Aragona and Other Renaissance Nobles

“…This species usually colonizes corpses in later succession waves during the ammonia fermentation. However, in concealed conditions, where no arrival of blowflies is possible, H. capensis is often the dominant Diptera species (see also Pradelli et al 2019). This supports the hypothesis that corpses have been kept indoors for a long time under protected, confined environmental conditions, without exposure to open air (Couri et al 2009).…”

“…Part of the material was mounted on entomological card and photographed to create a pictorial archive useful for the identification of the species (Skidmore 1985, Smith 1986, Peacock 1993, Giordani et al 2018, Pradelli et al 2019. Where the species identification was not possible because the remains were incomplete, badly preserved or because of the lack of an identification key for that developmental stage or fragment (e.g., Lepidoptera cocoon and Coleoptera exuviae), identification was done to the taxonomic level of genus or family.…”

Description of the puparium and other notes on the morphological and molecular identification of Phthitia empirica (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae) collected from animal carcasses

“…The literature about the morphology of adult insects of forensic interest is extensive (Barros de Carvalho and Antunes de Mello-Patiu 2008;Rochefort et al 2015;Szpila et al 2015) as though a great effort has been made by several authors to provide identification keys for larvae species of sanitary, medical, veterinary, and agricultural importance (Szpila Szpila et al 2015;Grzywacz et al 2017). Puparia, due to the hardness of their external sclerotized cuticle, are often the most abundant and Diptera remains associated with cadavers found in forensic-especially in old cases-and archaeological contexts (Gaudio et al 2015;Giordani et al 2018a;Pradelli et al 2019), but they are still an under studied topic. Skidmore (1992) suggested the length of the puparium, the projections of the posterior spiracles, and the prospiracular type as the diagnostic characters of sphaerocerid puparia.…”

A probable case of subligamentous tuberculous spondylitis: The concealed body of theLate Modern Period(early 16th century to early 20th century),Franciscancrypt ofSt. AnthonyandSt. Eusebiuschurch,Lombardy,Italy

“…This position was maintained fixed thanks to wooden planks at the chest and head level, which were nailed to the niche. Finally, a wall was erected so as to close the niche (Pradelli et al, ). This was the first ceremony of the “double burial” ritual.…”