From sacred symbolism to luxury display and consumption: The peacock in medieval Catalonia—Data from zooarcheological, iconographic, and literary evidences

• Published in: International journal of osteoarchaeology 2023-07, Vol.33 (4), p.753-761
• Main Authors: Fernández, Marina, Nadal, Maria, Ramos, Jordi, Miró, Carme, Banks, Philip, Nadal, Jordi, Riera, Santiago, Lloveras, Lluís
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalonia; iconography; literature; Medieval period; Middle Ages; Peacock (Pavo cristatus Linnaeus 1758); Sotstinent Navarro archeological excavation
• ISSN: 1047-482X; 1099-1212
• DOI: 10.1002/oa.3169

This work presents the first remains of a peacock (Pavo cristatus Linnaeus 1758) discovered in an archeological context in Catalonia. It is a well‐preserved animal (14 remains of an adult female) located in medieval levels—datable to the 13th century (1210–1278 cal. AD) at the site of Carrer de Sotstinent Navarro, in the city of Barcelona. We present the study of the remains of this animal together with that of the other birds recovered from the same excavation. In addition, by referring to iconographic and literary sources, some reflections are made on the species in Catalonia in medieval times. The interpretation of the remains could range from a symbolic religious use of the animal to a more profane one, as an element of identification of social status and economic ostentation, in the field of gastronomy or as an ornamental animal. The study of the remains and their archeological context seem to support this last hypothesis.