State of the art of the funerary archaeoentomological investigations in Italy

Abstract

Archaeoentomology is a branch of environmental archaeology focusing on insects and other arthropods contributing, with other disciplines, to reconstruct a more complete view of past events, climate and landscape. Funerary archaeoentomology focuses on the arthropods associated with human remains or with elements part of funerary rituals such as offerings. In the last years, several papers have been published on Italian material covering around 5000 years. Sardinian necropolis, Egyptian mummies and offerings stored in public collections are among the oldest samples in which insects have been evidenced. Mummified and skeletonised bodies of kings, Saints and common people are another important source of insects in addition to remains of WWI soldiers. The arthropod remains found during these investigations belong mainly to Diptera (flies), Coleoptera (beetles) and Arachnida (mites). The aim of this paper is to summarise the Italian data about insects associated with human remains of archaeological interest in order to increase the interest and the utilisation of a discipline too often underestimated.