'The book of deceased adults' predates civil records?

[willperone]

I found the document from Pietradefusi with the marriage records from one of my ancestors in 1845. It references something called 'il libro dei morti adulti che incomincia
dal 1801 a termina nel 1816 al fol. 7'. It appears to be some book recording deceased people that predates the civil records. Have any of you heard of such a thing?

image:
http://i.imgur.com/t7eGh.jpg

[ricbru]

In many areas of the boot, there were the books of civil records of the Napoleone area, so that is where it comes from
bye Riccardo

[willperone]

I checked with a genealogist that lives in the area and he claims it is one of the church record books.

[willperone]

Correction, the town listed is Avellino not Pietradefusi (the family moved there later on).