02782nas a2200421   4500000000100000000000100001008004100002260001200043653001700055653001700072653002100089653002300110653001400133653002600147653002300173653001200196653001000208100001500218700001600233700001600249700001400265700001500279700001800294700001400312700001600326700001500342700001600357700001700373700001800390700001700408700001600425245013700441856014800578300001600726490000600742520159200748020002002340       2023                            d  c2023///10aanthropology10aConservation10a3D documentation10adigital microscopy10aFT-IR ATR10amultispectral imaging10aradiocarbon dating10aSEM/EDS10askull1 aA. Macchia1 aS. Montorsi1 aG. Salatino1 aR. Albini1 aE. Cerilli1 aC. Biribicchi1 aM. Faella1 aA. Rogliani1 aT. de Caro1 aC. Lubritto1 aC. Vetromile1 aM.R. Di Cicco1 aA. Ambrosini1 aA. Sperduti00aPreserving Intangible Heritage through Tangible Finds: The “Skull with Ears”—St. Luciella ai Librai’s Church (Naples, Italy)  uhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85153931094&doi=10.3390%2fheritage6040188&partnerID=40&md5=9b034d74e8acb15eed6a4f6dac6df643  a3541-3566, 0 v63 aThe present study reports the conservative first aid concerning the human cranium known as the “Skull with Ears”, which is conserved in the crypt of Santa Luciella ai Librai’s church in Naples, Italy. These remains have historically been worshipped by devotees within the cult of the “abandoned souls”. The skulls were “adopted” by the Neapolitan population and treated with particular care in exchange for divine favors. The critical preservation status of the “Skull with ears” required a multidisciplinary approach aimed at defining the taphonomy and anthropological features of the cranium, while determining the state of its conservation by using a multi-analytical approach. Multispectral imaging, 3D modeling, X-ray imaging, microscopical observations, and microbiological tests enabled the documentation of the cranium while assessing this state of conservation. Electron scanning microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in the attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mode, and radiocarbon dating allowed for essential data to be obtained on the cranium’s history and constituent components. The results that were obtained from both the analysis of the cranium and the environmental monitoring of the crypt showed the advanced degradation of the bones due to a significant bacterial attack, which was facilitated by the inadequate environmental conditions at the site of conservation. The acquired data enabled the definition of the most suitable conservation strategy and the securing of the cranium.  a25719408 (ISSN)