Medieval Queen Elisenda’s Remains and 24 Others Unearthed in Barcelona Excavation

Archaeologists in a 14th-century monastery in Barcelona have uncovered the remains of 25 individuals across eight graves, including Queen Elisenda de Montcada’s tomb, through a detailed study launched in 2024.

A statement from the Culture Institute of Barcelona revealed that Elisenda’s tomb was excavated to explore her life and the conditions of women in the 14th century. She married King James II of Aragon and Valencia shortly after his third wife’s death, later serving as regent during his absence. After his death in 1327, she resided near the monastery for 37 years.

Analysis of Elisenda’s remains, aged 70, indicated she was buried in clothing resembling monastic attire, accompanied by fabrics like tinsel and silk.

The excavation, part of the monastery’s 700th-anniversary celebrations, will continue until May 2027 and includes genetic, dating, and material analyses.

Of the 25 remains, most belonged to adult women, some older than typical for medieval periods. Children and adolescents were also present, with evidence of health issues like metabolic diseases and injuries, offering insights into high-status women’s lives.

Additional discoveries included DNA analysis to verify identities and origins, as well as uncovering historical burial practices. Textile bundles, ritual items like candles and cords, and over 200 floral or aromatic offerings were found, highlighting unique funerary customs.

Some graves, such as those attributed to the knight Artau de Foces and abbess Francesca Saportella, contained unanticipated remains, including multiple women and children alongside no male remains in one case.

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