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Studio multidisciplinare dei resti mortali mummificati di sant’Atto da Pistoia († 1153)

  • Agata Lunardini
  • Valentina Giuffra
  • Antonio Fornaciari
  • Raffaele Gaeta
  • Giulia Riccomi
  • Gino Fornaciari
  • Simona Minozzi

In December 2019 the canonical recognition and the multidisciplinary study of the human remains of sant’Atto da Pistoia († 1153) took place in the cathedral of San Zeno in Pistoia. The investigation, which continued in the following months, included the anthropological and paleopathological examination, the radiological study through conventional X-ray and Computed Tomography, histological and immunohistochemistry analyses, radiometric dating and isotopical study for the reconstruction of the nutritional model and of the place of provenance. The results of the study showed that sant’Atto was a naturally mummified ancient human body. The state of preservation is good, even if evidences of restorations appeared in some areas of the body. Reconstruction of the biological profile of Atto outlines a male individual aged over 50 years, with a stature of about 168-170 cm. Paleopathological investigation indicated that the saint was suffering from caries, pulmonary anthracosis and osteoarthritis. The histological analysis showed a very good state of preservation of biological tissues. Radiocarbon dating places the saint's death between the tenth and eleventh centuries. The nutritional profile indicates a diet based on terrestrial and marine proteins, compatible with the status of abbot and bishop. Isotopical study suggests a compatibility of provenance of the saint with some Italian geographical areas, including the Alpine area, Tuscany, Lazio or Calabria.

  • Keywords:
  • Middle Ages – Tuscany – saint bodies - paleopathology- paleodiet- radiocarbon dating,
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Agata Lunardini

University of Pisa, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0001-5491-1617

Valentina Giuffra

University of Pisa, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0001-9108-039X

Antonio Fornaciari

University of Sassari, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-4063-3166

Raffaele Gaeta

University of Pisa, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0001-5220-5997

Giulia Riccomi

University of Pisa, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-3048-0493

Gino Fornaciari

University of Pisa, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-1334-1707

Simona Minozzi

University of Pisa, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0003-3303-0014

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  • Publication Year: 2024
  • Pages: 299-331
  • Content License: CC BY 4.0
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Chapter Information

Chapter Title

Studio multidisciplinare dei resti mortali mummificati di sant’Atto da Pistoia († 1153)

Authors

Agata Lunardini, Valentina Giuffra, Antonio Fornaciari, Raffaele Gaeta, Giulia Riccomi, Gino Fornaciari, Simona Minozzi

Language

Italian

DOI

10.36253/979-12-215-0335-7.14

Peer Reviewed

Publication Year

2024

Copyright Information

© 2024 Author(s)

Content License

CC BY 4.0

Metadata License

CC0 1.0

Bibliographic Information

Book Title

Atto abate vallombrosano e vescovo di Pistoia

Book Subtitle

Bilancio storiografico e prospettive di ricerca sulla vita e l’opera di un protagonista del XII secolo

Editors

Francesco Salvestrini

Peer Reviewed

Number of Pages

378

Publication Year

2024

Copyright Information

© 2024 Author(s)

Content License

CC BY 4.0

Metadata License

CC0 1.0

Publisher Name

Firenze University Press

DOI

10.36253/979-12-215-0335-7

ISBN Print

979-12-215-0334-0

eISBN (pdf)

979-12-215-0335-7

eISBN (epub)

979-12-215-0336-4

Series Title

Fragmentaria. Studi di storia culturale e antropologia religiosa

Series ISSN

2975-1217

Series E-ISSN

2975-1225

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