[dealeyplaza]

The pretty faced Rosalina seems to be just sleeping after she came from her play in the garden. She has been preserved there since the last 90 years in a small wooden and glass topped coffin. The place we are talking about is the Capuchin monastery in Sicily.

This girl died of bronchial infection in Dec 1920 when she was a mere 2 years old. But surprisingly she is not alone and is given company by another 2000 mummies which are almost 400 years older. She was one of the last few persons to be mummified after which the process was banned finally.

These mummies were covered by the famous National Geographic Magazine which dates back to 16th century or so. They were so kept that the mummies used to dry out than getting rotted. Silvestro of Gubbio seems to be the oldest mummy still in place who died in 1599. He is still covered with the then religious robes. A special procedure was followed to preserve them.

The dead bodies were undressed and kept in special chambers so that the fluids in the body could easily drain out and it could get preserved for generations. After a period of six months when the total fluid drained out, the body were doused with the help of vinegar and then they were put inside those wooden coffins as per their last wishes. The mummies were divided into several areas where they were rested.

A separate section was devoted to teachers, doctors, professors, soldiers and lawyers who were dressed as per the job they used to do. In the recent times a special injection was used to preserve the bodies. After seeing the mummified body of Rosalina every one used to think that it was a doll.

When x rays of the body was done, it showed that all her organs are very much intact. This area is a special tourist attraction and a great place for scientists to do some further research and learn things like diseases, life expectancy in the previous centuries.

[bigfishead]

Wonder why they outlawed it?

[Karma]

Very interesting. Amazing how well preserved she is.

[JadeStar]

Incredible how perfect she is, as if she was still alive; there's still expression in her little face and everything...

[dealeyplaza]

Also buried in the Capuchin monastery with little Rosalina

[Kaiu-chan]

Oh, I've heard about this! All in Sicily or something. Some special chemical. I love that picture.

[Orchid17]

Amazing!

[niknik]

my mom love antiques! how much?

[dealeyplaza]

Found a couple more:


larger version of original post:

[wickedqueenwicker]

In the 24th century, the crew of the Enterprise will find this on some far away planet and bring her back to life where she'll wreak havoc and piss off Picard for sitting in his chair and spilling his tea.