Historical inauguration in the monastery
Last Monday, May 19, the monastery of Santa María de Bellpuig de les Avellanes witnessed a significant event: the opening of dark circles that house the remains of the Urgell Ribagorçana X and his family. This act is part of an ambitious reproduction project of the original graves, currently protected in the New York Cloisters Museum.
A large cultural project
The initiative, promoted by the Diputación de Lleida together with the Marist brothers of the Monastery, has the collaboration of various institutions. The objective is not only to preserve the historical memory of the Urgell Condes, but also make their remains accessible, currently.
History of bone remains
The remains of the Condes, which include àlvar I, his wife Cecília de Foix and his brother àlvar II, were recovered in 1906 after the sale of the original graves. After a period of inactivity, in 1967 they were transferred again to the monastery, where they remained under notarial shelter until their recent opening.
Anthropological and Documentary Research
The opening of dark circles not only marks an archaeological milestone, but also begins an anthropological study that will be carried out by the Museum of Archeology of Catalonia. This analysis aims to shed light on the life and health of Condes, as well as on their lineage.
Collaborations in the study
The study has the support of the Paleopathology Laboratory and the Territorial Support Museum of the Noguera, which will join the investigation to extract samples and perform thorough analysis. In addition, a documentary investigation by the medievalist historian Stefano Maria Cingolani has been initiated, with the intention of deepening the roots of the Urgell family.
An act of cultural recognition
The Opening event was witnessed by outstanding figures in the cultural and patrimonial field, such as Marina Miquel and Estefanía Rufach, who underlined the importance of preserving historical heritage and the need to continue with research that strengthens our understanding of the past.
The future of heritage
The studies on the remains of the Urgell Condes will be carried out throughout the week in the monastery, and at the end, the remains will be carefully stored in suitable boxes for their conservation. This process not only ensures the protection of heritage, but also provides an opportunity to reflect on history and its relevance today.