A journey to the past through the bone
On Monday, May 19th, the solemn church of the Monastery of Santa Maria de Bellpuig de les Avellanes was the scene of an exceptional event: the opening of the osseres that house the remains of the remarkable counts of Urgell, including Ermengol X and their parents.
A large cultural project
This initiative is part of an ambitious project that seeks to reproduce the original tombs of the counts, currently preserved in the Museum of the Cloisters in New York. Promoted by the Diputación de Lleida in collaboration with the Marist brothers of the monastery, this effort has received the support of several institutions.
Unique remains in the history of Urgell
The bone remains of the counts of Urgell are currently the only identified and accessible. Following the sale of the original tombs in 1906, the remains were transferred by the parish priest of Vilanova de la Sal, who buried them in a container in the local church. In 1967, these remains were recovered and relocated to Bellpuig, where they were secured with a notarial stamp.
Anthropological and historical research
The opening of the osseres will be accompanied by an exhaustive anthropological study by the Museum of Archeology of Catalonia. This research is presented as a continuity of the scientific activities of the Paleopathology Laboratory, in collaboration with the Museum of Territorial Support of La Noguera.
Analysis and knowledge
In addition, samples will be extracted to perform various analytics that provide a deeper understanding of the Urgell family, particularly their connection to Cabrera’s house.
Collaborations and New Research
In this context, documentary research has been commissioned by the medievalist historian Stefano Maria Cingolani. This research will be carried out in collaboration with the Ethnological Museum of the Monseny of Arbúcies, which works on a research and dissemination project on the important legacy of this Girona lineage.
Activities scheduled in Bellpuig
The analyzes and studies on the remains of the counts of Urgell will develop throughout the week within the same monastery. Once completed, the remains will be stored in suitable boxes for archeological remains and will then be re -placed in the copy of the original tombs.
Attendees of the event
The event was attended by various authorities, including the Deputy Director General of Architectural Heritage of the Generalitat, Marina Miquel, as well as the Mayor of Os de Balaguer, Estefania Rufach, and several heritage conservatives and technicians who contributed to this initiative.
