Pollen Evidence of Medicine from an Embalming Jar Associated with Vittoria della Rovere, Florence, Italy

Authors

Karl Reinhard, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Kelsey B. Lynch, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Annie Larsen, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Braymond Adams, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Leon Higley, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Marina Milanello do Amaral, Instituto de Criminalística-Superintendência da Polícia Técnico-Científica, São Paulo, Brazil
Julia Russ, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Donatella Lippi, University of Florence
Johnica J. Morrow, Chadron State CollegeFollow
Dario Piombino-Mascali, Vilnius University

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

7-2018

Citation

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 21 (2018): 238–242

doi: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.06.039

Comments

Copyright 2018, Elsevier. Used by permission.

Abstract

Various samples of human viscera fragments, sponges, and cloth were collected from embalming jars belonging to members of the Medici family of Florence. One jar was labeled with the name Vittoria della Rovere, who died in March of 1694. This jar contained viscera fragments that were identified as a section of collapsed intestine. The intestine of the Vittoria della Rovere sample contained a large concentration of pollen belonging to the Myrtaceae family. The Myrtaceae pollen was sometimes observed in clusters during analysis, which is indicative of purposeful ingestion of flowers, buds, or a substance derived from floral structures. Thus, the high concentrations and clustering of Myrtaceae pollen grains recovered from this sample are reflective of dietary or medicinal practices. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that the pollen was from cloves, Syzygium aromaticum. It is most likely that Vittoria della Rovere consumed cloves for medicinal or culinary reasons shortly before death.