Two year old Rosalia Lombardo died of pneumonia in 1920 and local embalmer and taxidermist, Alfredo Salafia, mummified her at the request of her heartbroken father. Salafia's embalming techniques ensured that the body was well preserved to this day and her remains are on display along with those of numerous others in the Capuchin Catacombs under the Capuchin Convent in Palermo, Sicily.
What makes this story notable is that the child mummy appears to open and close her eyes on a regular basis. In 2009 Italian anthropologist and curator of the Capuchin Catacombs, Dario Piombino-Mascali solved the mystery of this little "sleeping beauty". He also figured out the mysterious formula used for Rosalia’s impeccable preservation.
More: Science Alert
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