Bear baiting in England began centuries earlier than thought
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Researchers from Cardiff University and the University of Nottingham discovered bear baiting, forcing dogs to fight tethered bears, became common in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Before this time, archaeologists found no evidence of live bears in England, but bear remains began appearing in locations like Colchester and Carlisle soon after the invasion, suggesting bears were imported from Europe.
The team combined archaeological analysis of bear bones with historical records, including the Bayeux Tapestry and the Domesday Book, to reach their conclusions. They found evidence of bear bones at ten sites in England and France, and a newly dated shoulder blade from Richmond, in northern England, confirmed bears were present immediately following the Norman Conquest. The researchers determined the practice wasn’t limited to the aristocracy, as bear bones appeared in several English towns, indicating broader public interest.
Professor Hannah O’Regan explained the study marks the first detailed investigation into the medieval origins of bear baiting, a practice previously thought to have begun around the time of Queen Elizabeth I. A scapula, originally found in 1864 and held by The Yorkshire Museum, proved crucial to establishing this earlier timeline. The team also identified Spenellus, a named “bearward” living in Richmond in the early 1200s, further solidifying the long history of bears in the region.
