Petrified child mummies by Paolo Gorini (19th century CE, Lodi, Lombardy, Italy): anthropological, pathological, and conservation perspectives

Dario Piombino-Mascali^1*Omar Larentis^2,3Ilaria Gorini³Michele Campus⁴Stefano Vanin⁵Enrica Tonina³Giuseppina Carta⁵Alberto Carli⁶Lisa De Luca³

• ¹Cranfield University Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield, United Kingdom
• ²Universita degli Studi di Trento, Trento, Italy
• ³Universita degli Studi dell'Insubria, Varese, Italy
• ⁴Fujifilm Italia, Cernusco sul Naviglio, Italy
• ⁵Universita degli Studi di Genova, Genoa, Italy
• ⁶Universita degli Studi del Molise, Campobasso, Italy

This study presents an interdisciplinary analysis of six non-adult petrified specimens prepared by the Italian scientist Paolo Gorini (1813–1881) in Lodi, Lombardy, during the 19th century. Housed since 1981 in the Old Hospital, these individuals represent the entire known corpus of Gorini's preserved children. The research combined macroscopic inspection, radiographic imaging, anthropological assessment, and entomological observations to document biological characteristics, embalming techniques, and conservation needs. Radiographic analysis enabled the estimation of ages at death, ranging from approximately 1.5 to 12 months, and provided detailed information on skeletal development, dental formation, and pathological conditions. Soft tissues were preserved to an exceptional degree, allowing for the identification of dermal, muscular, and visceral structures. Notable modifications, such as intraorbital inserts, revealed Gorini's attention to appearance and presentation. Entomological traces, including isolated and clustered holes, offered evidence of post-mortem interactions with insects. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of Gorini's petrification process, now better understood through recent discoveries of his embalming formulae. His technique achieved both anatomical preservation and long-term stability, even in fragile non-adult individuals. Beyond technical achievements, the specimens reflect broader 19th-century cultural attitudes toward childhood, mortality, and commemoration in a period of high infant mortality. By integrating biological, historical, and conservation perspectives, this study contributes both to the documentation of a unique anatomical collection and to the safeguarding of its future. It also situates Gorini's work within the scientific and cultural milieu of his time, highlighting the intersection of experimental anatomy, public display, and the desire for permanence over death.