Researchers in Barcelona have uncovered a significant historical puzzle during an investigation of medieval tombs at the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes. The nearly 700-year-old Gothic monastery, founded by Queen Elisenda of Montcada in 1326, has yielded surprising results from a three-year excavation project, revealing that many of the remains within the royal tombs do not match their historical attributions.
One of the most striking findings is that the tomb attributed to Artau de Foces contained the remains of five individuals—two adult women and three children—rather than a single male occupant. Enric Puga, communications officer for the monastery, stated that the number of skeletons found, totaling 25 across eight tombs, exceeded researchers' expectations. The project also recovered over 200 archaeological samples, including funerary offerings and preserved plant materials.
Puga explained that evidence of tomb re-openings and subsequent alterations suggests why the historical identifications are often incorrect. In the case of Francesca Saportella, the second abbess of the monastery, her tomb held at least nine individuals from later periods, some showing signs of injuries from edged weapons. Notably, the mummified remains of a female trunk with fetal remnants were also found, but the abbess herself was not among the identified individuals.
Queen Elisenda's Tomb
Despite the unexpected discoveries in other tombs, the wooden box preserving Queen Elisenda's remains was found to be in excellent condition and dated to the medieval period. Analysis indicates the queen was buried in simple clothing and her remains show signs of age-related health conditions. Archaeobotanical analysis has helped identify various funerary rites, including the use of plants like rosemary for body preparation and floral offerings with symbolic meaning.
Studies of the tomb contents have offered insights into the funerary culture of the period, with objects from daily life discovered within some of the bundled remains. The research, conducted with the approval of the monastery's community of nuns, aims to honor Queen Elisenda's will, which stipulates that all studied remains must be returned to their original burial sites within the monastery.
Further DNA testing is scheduled through 2027. To date, approximately six percent of Queen Elisenda's genome has been recovered, allowing for preliminary estimates of her pigmentation traits. The project anticipates that the comprehensive analysis of the collected samples will provide significant insights into 14th-century Catalan society, particularly concerning the burial practices within a prominent female religious center.