The Monastic Community of the Island of Cabrera (Balearic Islands, 5th-8th Centuries). An Archaeological Perspective

The main goal of project “Recuperació, consolidació i museïtzació del monestir bizantí de l’illa de Cabrera” is to gain a better understanding of the all-male monastery that, according to Pope Gregory I’s Letter XIII, 47, written in 603, existed in island of Cabrera, in the Balearics. Following archaeological survey and the excavation of twelve trenches, the activity of a coenoby and several hermitages in the archipelago of Cabrera between the 5th and the 8th centuries was confirmed. This article presents the architectural features and archaeological materials found in relation to this monastic community, notably marble, ceramics, and glass, as well as an assemblage of inscriptions and seal impressions, often bearing Christian symbols.