In a recent archaeological find in Portugal, disturbing evidence about the fate of domestic cats during the Middle Ages has been discovered. This study, led by Eva Pires and published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, reveals that cats were not only common in medieval Portuguese households but were also sacrificed and skinned for their fur. This practice, although documented in historical writings, had never been confirmed through archaeology in Portugal.

The archaeological site in question is located on Rua do Registo Civil in the town of Almada, very close to Lisbon, and dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries. During the excavations, two storage pits containing a total of 202 bone remains belonging to 13 cats were found mixed with household waste, including pottery and other food remnants, suggesting no differentiation in waste disposal.

The taphonomic analysis, which studies the processes of fossilization and how they affect organic remains, showed that at least four of these cats were intentionally sacrificed and skinned. The cut marks found on the bones, especially on skulls and jaws, indicate that their skins were exploited, a practice consistent with other findings in medieval Europe.

The cats found at this site present a varied age range, with six individuals under four months, one between five and six months, and six over one year at the time of their death. The presence of juveniles among the sacrificed cats suggests that younger animals were preferred for their pelts, possibly due to the softness of their fur.

Cats in a medieval manuscript
Cats in a medieval manuscript. Credit: Public domain / Picryl

The study distinguished between domestic cats (Felis catus) and wild cats (Felis silvestris) through an osteometric analysis, focusing on the molars and the row of premolars and molars. All the analyzed specimens belonged to domestic cats, with one possible exception of a larger individual that could have been a wild cat or simply a larger domestic cat.

This finding represents the first zooarchaeological evidence of cat fur exploitation in medieval Portugal. Although written documents from the time mention the use of cat skins, this is the first time it has been confirmed through physical evidence. In other parts of Europe, such as Northern Europe and Spain, this practice had already been documented, and the results of this study corroborate it in the Portuguese context.

Despite this evidence, the existence of an organized fur trade in the region remains uncertain. The remains found do not allow for a definitive conclusion about whether there was a formal commercial structure or if the exploitation was opportunistic or small-scale. In Almada cat and fox remains have been found together on several occasions, but this has also not confirmed the existence of an organized fur trade in the city.

The discovery of these remains offers a perspective on how animals were treated and regarded in the society of the time. The lack of differentiation in the disposal of cat remains, mixed with other household waste, suggests that cats, like other animals, did not receive special treatment at the end of their lives.

The exploitation of cat skins is an example of how animals were used integrally, not only as pets or for pest control but also as economic resources. As more studies are conducted, more details about the extent and organization of this practice in the region may emerge.

SOURCES

Eva Pires, Pets or pelts: Cat fur exploitation in medieval Portugal. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, vol.57, September 2024, 104664. doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104664

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