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We are a group made out of an archaeologist, an anthropologist, an entimo-archaeologist, a pollen scientist and myself as the textile and costume specialist, currently working on mummies found in Roccapelago, near Modena in Italy. They date from the 16th to the middle of the 17th century and were very poor farmers, men women and children. Their garments are personal shirts, burial-over shirts and stockings. The first studies have already revealed that although they are simple shirts, they show many variations, with individual embellishments. The same can be said for the knitted stockings. The shirts have been worn during much of the life of the wearer, they have been repaired and patched up many times. These patches can be as many as 50 pieces covering almost the entire surface of the shirt, and changing its initial appearance completely. Having all, about 65 mummies, had the same clad in different stages of preservation they offer a unique opportunity to study the textile/costumes in a lateral way, getting as much information as we possibly can, confronting them amongst the specialists as we go on. It is certainly a unique working condition.Usually we study funeral robes from rich and noble people in Italy, dressed in precious silks, dyed with costly materials and decorated with gold and silver. We never have the chance to study the poorer people of this country, dressed mostly in plant fibres grown in situ and using the wool from the local sheep’s. Therefore Roccapelago offers a unique opportunity to get new information which will open a new road in costume history.We are applying for an European Grant (with the deadline due in June), and are looking for partners. If anybody is interested or could help me to get connections with institutions, I would be very happy. I expect that the revelations we will find on these mummies will add new  interest in the field and open new roads for future endeavours.Thank you for your collaboration!Thessy Schoenholzer NicholsPlease contact me at thessy@tin.itor call 0039 329 692 4647