Thanks George...who knows...maybe in the future I'll have enough experience
or contacts. The matter of Alexander's death is really dear to my heart, and
I realize, just as you mentioned, that it will be next to impossible to ever
get a sampling of his remains for testing.
But I'll let you know if I ever do!
Thanks again for the advice,
Wendy Reardon
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ferzoco, G.P." <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, December 29, 2000 1:16 PM
Subject: exhumation (was Re: burial of sculptures)
> Dear Wendy,
>
> I expect that decisions on who gets exhumed, and who doesn't, reflects the
> same sort of political and social necessities that underlie the timing of
> canonizations (in the Middle Ages as well as nowadays). That is to say,
> unless many 'constituents' would gain (spiritually, and maybe even -- in
the
> best sense -- financially and politically) from the publicity surrounding
an
> exhumation and study of whatever remains may be found, then I think that
no
> amount of scholarly argument could possibly convince 'the authorities' to
> allow an exhumation to proceed.
>
> And unless I had many, MANY cards in my hand -- e.g. qualifications and
> experience in the realms of medieval archaeology AND historical
pathology --
> personally, I wouldn't waste anyone's time trying to get permission to
> exhume a pope (or anyone, for that matter).
>
> Who to ask for permission, if one were a renowned archaeologist and
> pathologist (and with good connections)? I would expect that possession
> accounts for almost all the legal power in such matters, so I would write
to
> the person responsible for the cemetery or church where said person/pope
is
> buried. But again, I really wouldn't bother anyone without demonstrably
> being suitably qualified.
>
> Best wishes,
> George Ferzoco
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