Plants and aromatics for embalming in Late Middle Ages and modern period: a synthesis of written sources and archaeobotanical data (France, Italy)

Abstract

International audienceOccasionally mentioned in written sources since the Early Middle Ages, embalming with evisceration spreads considerably and becomes quite usual practice for aristocratic elites from the late 13th century to the early 19th century. Apothecaries prepare aromatic powders including many plant organs and exudates supposed to preserve the body. Numerous encyclopaedias and treatises of medicine list these ingredients and show that the recipes are very diverse. Moreover, several studies of embalmed bodies have demonstrated the potential of archaeobotanical analyses coupling pollen and macro-remains for identifying this material. This paper aims to compile a synthesis of written and archaeological sources from France and Italy, and to assess the relevance of an interdisciplinary approach for a better understanding of this aristocratic burial practice. It demonstrates that both types of sources and approaches are strongly complementary and highlights their inherent advantages and methodological limitations. In order to understand which criteria were determinant in the composition of the embalming powders, their medicinal, odoriferous and symbolic properties are discussed. Finally, this work proposes some methodological perspectives and triggers new research avenues on the history of pharmacy in Late Medieval and modern Europe

Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry for metabolomic analysis of dental calculus from Duke Alessandro Farnese and Maria D’Aviz

“…The presence of EQM, an oxidation derivative of eugenol 32 , 33 can be explained not only by considering the dietary intake of spices such as cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon 34 , but also the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of eugenol-based remedies 35 , which have been used to treat toothache, a pathology that has affected Maria D’Aviz. However, the presence of EQM could also be ascribed to the use of essences for embalming, a practice used by the nobles in the sixteenth century 36 , 37 . Similarly, the presence of other metabolites deriving from fruits and citrus like hesperidin, neohesperidin, narirutin, naringin chalcone, dihydroxycitracridone I, amphibine H, which were observed in the dental calculus of the noble couple, could be explained taking into account both food consumption and their use as perfumes and essences used in the embalming practice.…”

The king’s spice cabinet–Plant remains from Gribshunden, a 15th century royal shipwreck in the Baltic Sea

“…Macrofossil finds of clove have been reported from a few sites. At Les Jacobins convent, France, a few fragments of the flower bud, dated to the 17 th century, was documented among embalming plants [ 88 ]. At the ancient port of Mantai, Sir Lanka, a site related to the early days of Indian Ocean trade, one clove was found dating to ca.…”

A bioarchaeological approach for the examination of two Lithuanian clergymen: Juozapas Arnulfas Giedraitis and Simonas Mykolas Giedraitis (18th–19th centuries AD)

“…In addition, the remains of other plants indicate that herbs for the mummification process were collected from raised bog and wetland meadow environments. It is also interesting to note that the identified species add to the dataset of plants employed for this purpose in France and Italy, reflecting different local traditions (Corbineau et al, 2018). Nevertheless, as the body is almost completely skeletonized, it is clear that the embalming process was not effective.…”