Comparison of Sardinian and Peruvian mummies by histological, immunohistochemical and anthropological study

Following the discovery of two partially mummified corps in a Cathedral of
Castelsardo, to better understand the mummification process it was decided
to compare them with a Peruvian mummy given to the University of Sassari
in the late ’800. The aim of this work is to compare tissue conservation status
by a morphological study supported by anthropological analysis.
Samples of skin and muscle were taken and rehydrated in Sadison’s solution
to be subjected to histological and immunohistochemical procedures.
To establish sex, death-age and height we worked following classical methods
(Ferembach 1980; Uberlaker 1989; Meindl and Lovejoy 1985). Castelsardo’s
mummies conditions are generally fair, although very variable in different
points of the body: the former is male, with death-age between 45 – 55 years.
His height is 171 cm. The latter female, with death-age between 60 – 67
years. Her height is 157 cm. She shows reduction of some intersomatic
spaces, spondyloarthropathy and scoliosis. The muscular and cutaneous
tissues show a good conservation, in particular the former presents a fibrillar
structure well-preserved, boundaries free between cells.
The Peruvian mummy is male, with death-age older than 25 years. His
height is 160 cm. He shows osteophytosis at lumbar area with a collapse of
the body at 4th lumbar vertebra; his conditions are overall good however the
tissues show a poor conservation where a structural organization cannot
be distinguished. This study allowed us to obtain paleo and microanatomy
information and to describe the morphological characteristics of mummified
tissues.