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.
University of Pisa, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0001-5491-1617
University of Pisa, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0001-9108-039X
University of Sassari, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-4063-3166
University of Pisa, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0001-5220-5997
University of Pisa, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-3048-0493
University of Pisa, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0002-1334-1707
University of Pisa, Italy - ORCID: 0000-0003-3303-0014
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
Metadata License
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
Metadata License
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