The rector of the hospital and his wife: two artificial mummies of the late 15th century from Siena (central Italy)

Two artificial mummies found in the hospital church of S. Maria della Scala in Siena (Tuscany, central Italy) and dated back to the end of the 15th century, were examined. The mummies, in good state of preservation and still wearing their Renaissance clothes, were identified as the rector of the hospital, named Salimbene Capacci, and his wife, Margherita Sozzini. Imaging studies, X-rays and CAT were performed. Autopsy made it possible to ascertain that the bodies had been eviscerated by a longitudinal cut from the neck to the pubis and that the thoracic and abdominal cavities had been filled with vegetable material. The pelvis was not eviscerated and the pelvic organs were conserved. The skull showed no traces of craniotomy or excerebration.