About the H.E.P.
INTRODUCING THE HUMAN EMBALMING PROJECT – H.E.P.
By Raffaella Bianucci and Andreas G. Nerlich on behalf of the research team
Based at the Ronin Institute, Montclair, New Jersey, USA and at the Department of Pathology, Academic Hospital Munich-Bogenhausen, Munich, Germany, the Human Embalming Project© (H.E.P.) is a multidisciplinary international team whose scope is to reconstruct the historical, cultural and religious background that led different 16th to 20th century Southern and Central European communities to intentionally preserve the bodies of their kin.
Distinction between natural mummification, embalming or a mix of both conditions is assessed resorting to non-invasive and minimally invasive techniques; a peculiar attention is devoted to the philological analysis of texts and documents of each analysed community. The spiritual movements that, from the 14th century onwards, allowed the spread of the same knowledge and techniques both at a national and international levels are investigated.
Aside from anthropological and paleopathological investigations, focus is made on the chemical and surgical techniques applied to human remains to guarantee their bodily preservation through time; this phase is followed by experimental reproduction in safe laboratory conditions.
Contact information: heproject2021@gmail.com