News
The MAN brings together medieval objects that were buried in a castle in Zaragoza
Two helmets, a Gothic bell, and an inkwell are part of a free exhibition on the finds from the Castillo de Monreal de Ariza, open until 28 February 2027.
A collapse in the mid-15th century sealed off a room in the Castillo de Monreal de Ariza, in Zaragoza. Centuries later, excavations in 2017 and 2018 recovered the objects that had been buried under the rubble. Since 6 October, a selection of these pieces has been on display at the Museo Arqueológico Nacional.
The exhibition “Life on the Frontier. Finds from the Castillo de Monreal de Ariza (Zaragoza)” offers a glimpse into the various activities of a medieval fortress. Two helmets illustrate part of the military equipment, while an inkwell and an ornate Gothic bell broaden the perspective to other uses of the castle.
Researchers interpret the room as a storeroom. The collapse preserved the objects together in the same context, allowing for the study of both the items themselves and their relationships to each other, and helping to reconstruct aspects of life in this frontier outpost.
The exhibition is organised in collaboration with the Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural de España, the Gobierno de Aragón, and the Museo de Zaragoza. It can be visited free of charge in the Sala de Novedades Arqueológicas del MAN until 28 February 2027.