UniBologna, what are fragments of tattooed human skin doing in the Anatomical Wax Collection? A study

The “Luigi Cattaneo” Collection of Anatomical Waxes at theUniversity of Bologna also houses some fragments of tattooed human skin dating back to the 19th century. These are unusual finds that offer a special look at the history of tattooing and the scientific and cultural context of the time.

To delve into their origin and how they were made, an interdisciplinary team of scholars conducted a study linking anatomy, chemistry, cultural heritage conservation and anthropology. Participating in the study were researchers from the Italian Space Agency, the Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences and the University of Bologna’s University Museum System, the Department of Literary, Philosophical Studies and History ofArt of the University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, the Central European Research Infrastructure Consortium (CERIC-ERIC), the Post-Scriptum Laboratory and the International Center for Theoretical Physics “Abdus Salam” (ICTP).

The tattoos analyzed, which can be dated to the 19th century, show a remarkable variety of subjects. Religious motifs appear among them, such as votive offerings related to pilgrimages to the Holy House of Loreto, but also images of personal, amorous and erotic nature. Taken together, these tattoos constitute valuable evidence of the material and symbolic culture of the period.

Precisely at that time, however, the long history of tattooing went through a little-known and controversial phase, influenced by the theories of Cesare Lombroso. According to these ideas, now completely outdated, tattoos were considered signs of a supposed innate moral degeneration, typical of criminals. In this context, the practice of preserving fragments of tattooed human skin within museum collections dedicated to criminology, natural history and anatomy became widespread.

The artifacts now housed in the Bologna collection were found a few years ago in a storage room of the Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, accompanied by little information about their provenance. On loan to MUDEC in Milan for the exhibition Tattoo. Stories from the Mediterranean, scholars took the opportunity to conduct an in-depth analysis. The research focused in particular on three fragments of tattooed skin. Through the use of non-destructive spectroscopic techniques, it was possible to study the pigments and materials used and their state of preservation, without damaging the finds.

Using infrared spectroscopy (IF) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), available at Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste and the “Abdus Salam” International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the researchers reconstructed the composition of the inks. The black appeared to be obtained from carbon-rich soot, probably derived from burning plant materials; the brown tones, on the other hand, were associated with natural earthy pigments containing iron and manganese. The red inks showed traces of lead and mercury, consistent with the use of cinnabar, a mineral pigment known since antiquity.

Analysis also revealed the presence of lime and zinc compounds, which were used in museums in the past for the treatment and preservation of anatomical artifacts. Traces of fungal activity were also detected, a sign of degradation processes still in progress. These data allowed for targeted intervention, making it possible to clean, stabilize and reassemble the fragments in appropriate conditions, improving the legibility of the tattoos while preserving their historical authenticity.

“The fragments analyzed are an exceptional testimony to the evolutionary path of tattooing from a popular and ritual practice to an artistic expression,” explained Stefano Ratti, professor at the Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences at the University of Bologna and scientific head of the “Luigi Cattaneo” Anatomical Wax Collection. “Moreover, thanks to this work we were able to define for the first time specific analysis, restoration and conservation protocols for these extraordinary and fragile artifacts.”

“The analytical work carried out demonstrates the usefulness of physics applied to cultural heritage in defining new methods of study and conservation,” said Monia Vadrucci, promoter of the study and researcher at the Italian Space Agency. “This is a fundamental step forward for the preservation and study of ancient tattooed skin flaps, an area so far lacking established methodologies.”

The results of the investigation were published in npj Heritage Science under the title Scientific analysis and preservation protocols for tattooed skin specimens from ’Luigi Cattaneo’ anatomical wax collection. Ester Orsini, Elisa Lodolo, Cristina Nisi and Stefano Ratti participated for the University of Bologna.

UniBologna, what are fragments of tattooed human skin doing in the Anatomical Wax Collection? A study

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