Ethical Considerations Associated with the Display and Analysis of Juvenile Mummies from the Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo, Sicily

Abstract

The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo (Sicily) are a unique and culturally rich site utilized from the late sixteenth to mid-twentieth century. The Catacombs are home to the largest collection (n = 1,284) of partly or completely mummified remains in Europe, and the largest assemblage of juvenile mummies (n = 163) in Sicily. As a result, the site attracts thousands of visitors every year. This raises a number of ethical concerns in terms of the preservation, display, and scientific analysis of these mummies. This article will investigate the ethical challenges associated with the display and analysis of juvenile mummified individuals in the Capuchin Catacombs. Initially, ethical issues that arise when displaying mummified children at a visitor site will be explored. Subsequently, the value of adopting non-invasive techniques to answer highly focused, ethically grounded research questions will be addressed. Furthermore, this article will demonstrate the importance of transparent, open dialogue with religious groups and cultural heritage bodies in the study of juvenile mummies. Recommendations for best practice are provided at the end of this paper. These guidelines aim to ensure that juvenile mummies are 2 displayed and analysed appropriately, whilst simultaneously respecting the beliefs and wishes of the living and deceased.

Exploring public perceptions of creating and using 3D printed human remains

“…In contrast, the display of medical specimens and the remains of babies are areas that can cause greater concern [19,22]. The study by Hirst et al [18], considered the relationship between 3D prints of human remains and real human remains and surveyed the opinions of museum visitors.…”

“…In an exploration of the ethical considerations of the display and analysis of mummified remains of children at a historical site in Italy, Squires and Piombino-Mascali [22] asserted that photography by the public should not be allowed, and that taking photos of the remains is disrespectful. However, an image showing the remains of the children is included in the article revealing the importance of context and accessibility.…”

“…The sensitivity of taking photographs of human remains often varies with the context, for example, photographs can often be prohibited from being taken, such as in The Hunterian Anatomy Museum, Glasgow and in the Body Worlds exhibition in the UK, although this same exhibition in Amsterdam did not have this restriction [27]. Anthropologists and archaeologists must endeavour to be mindful of the purpose of their actions and of their actions themselves, whilst also respecting the power that photographs have to unsettle people or cause distress [19,22]. Moreover, this warning may also be applied to the production and exhibition of 3D remains and echoes the recommendations in the BABAO imaging guidelines [28].…”