During excavations at the St. Alban-Graben in 2020, archaeologists discovered the skeleton of a monkey in a late medieval latrine tower. The find is a rarity throughout Europe.
In cooperation with the Archaeological Soil Research, the Basel Historical Museum is showing in a cabinet exhibition what the investigations so far have brought to light.
Skeletal comparisons suggest that the animal was a macaque. The kitchen utensils, which were disposed of in the latrine together with the carcass, date the monkey's death to around 1350–1400. Healed bone fractures and traces of inflammation testify to a less than species-appropriate animal husbandry.
In the small presentation, not only the monkey's skeleton and other finds are on display, but also pictures and written sources shed light on the cultural and social environment in which the monkey lived its life as an exotic pet.
