At 09:44 PM 12/28/00 -0500, you wrote:
>But who would you go to to ask permission to dig up a site? And if you only
>have a Masters Degree but are not with a University...how likely are they to
>let you do such a thing?
>
>But I wouldn't know who to go to or what credentials I would need. I don't
>suspect they at Sta. Maria de Monserrato in Rome (where A6 is buried) would
>just say, "Sure, go for it," if I asked them to get a sampling of his
>remains. Also, as he was wrapped in an old blanket and pummeled into his
>too-small coffin, I suspect that the blanket itself could hold some clues
>(wouldn't you love THAT as a tapestry in your living room!!).
>
I'd tend to think you'd need to show a serious scholarly interest; I'd
address a letter to the Vatican's curator of antiquities. They welcome the
assistence of scholars; but in regard to exhumations; I'd imagine they'd
want a team with expertise in this area; and assurances that respect for
the dead be shown. In general, I'd expect the requirements to be rigorous;
curiosity not sufficient. I'd image if a scholar had spent a life time of
research that eliminated all possible sources for information and that
exhumation was necessary, then it would be considered. But I'd mine all the
textual sources throughout Europe first.
Sincerely in Christ,
Br. Alexis Bugnolo
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