Archaeoentomological and archaeoacarological investigations of embalming jar contents from the San Lorenzo Basilica in Florence, Italy

Entomological investigations of material from embalming jars found in the San Lorenzo Basilica of Florence, Italy, reveals information concerning the mortuary and embalming practices of the Medici family during the 17th and 18th centuries. The analysis of samples from these jars demonstrated the presence of mid- to late colonizers, Hydrotaea capensis (Diptera: Muscidae) and Conicera tibialis (Diptera: Phoridae), among the human remains and embalming materials within the jars. The presence of puparia and absence of adult flies suggests that some of the jars may have been initially left open to the surrounding environment and later closed. The lack of dipteran remains from sepsids, piophilids, and fannids was not surprising as materials in the jars were not likely to attract these types of flies. Spider beetles, likely Ptinus dubius and Ptinus subpilosus (Coleoptera: Ptinidae), were recovered from the embalming jars, indicating that insects also had access to embalming jar contents after drying. The absence of dermestid beetles, which are extremely common on dried remains, supports the interpretation that these jars could have been made unavailable at some point after embalming. These analyses provide an interesting case for insect colonization into embalming jars and give more information regarding mortuary practices.