In a chilling glimpse into the past, a groundbreaking study by researchers from the Universities of York and Nottingham has peeled back the layers of a gruesome spectacle that once enthralled England: bear baiting. This blood-soaked “sport,” where bears and dogs were pitted against each other for public amusement, was a cultural cornerstone in early modern England, particularly in London’s Bankside entertainment district from 1540 to 1682. Published in the journal Antiquity as part of the “Box Office Bears: Animal Baiting in Early Modern England” project, the study combines zooarchaeological evidence, stable isotope analysis, and archival records to reveal the shocking details of this barbaric practice.
In Shakespearean England, Bankside in Southwark was the beating heart of entertainment, where theaters shared space with arenas hosting animal baiting. Crowds who flocked to see Hamlet or King Lear would also cheer as bears faced off against ferocious dogs in a spectacle of violence. The study examines nine archaeological sites in Bankside, uncovering evidence that paints a vivid picture of the lives—and deaths—of the animals involved.
Dr. Lizzie Wright from the University of York’s Department of Archaeology explains, “We analyzed the species present at these sites to understand the animals’ lives. Both bears and dogs lived in Bankside, feeding on horse remains and even each other. The dogs, massive mastiffs standing 60–80cm tall at the shoulder, were bred specifically for baiting—a size rare for the time, akin to modern Great Danes
Bears were not cheap commodities. Costing up to eight times more than a horse, these animals were imported from overseas, making their early deaths an expensive loss for their owners. Intriguingly, the study found no evidence of bears younger than four years old at these sites. This absence raises questions: were bear cubs, likely captured young, used for other entertainments like dancing or theatrical performances before being thrust into the baiting arena? Owners, keen to maximize profits, likely delayed their use in such deadly spectacles.
The dogs, too, were valuable. While some bore healed fractures from their brutal encounters, these injuries suggest they survived for weeks or even months afterward, indicating they were not lightly sacrificed. These findings highlight the calculated nature of this cruel industry, where profit often trumped compassion.
Bear baiting wasn’t just a fringe activity—it was a passion shared by England’s elite. Tudor monarchs Henry VIII and Elizabeth I were avid fans. Henry had a private bear pit built at his Whitehall palace, while Elizabeth frequently attended baiting events during her royal tours. The cultural significance of baiting even seeped into the era’s literature, with bears and baiting terminology woven into the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries.
Professor Hannah O’Regan from the University of Nottingham notes, “Understanding baiting is key to understanding performance in Shakespeare’s England. The same audiences who watched profound dramas also reveled in the bloodshed of the baiting arenas. To them, there was no distinction between the two.”
England was not alone in its appetite for such cruelty. Across Europe, animal baiting thrived. In Sweden, bears were forced to fight dogs and other animals from the 1500s onward. Germany’s Fechthaus in Nuremberg, built in 1628, hosted fencing, theater, and bear baiting. In Austria, a Vienna amphitheater constructed in 1755 staged fights between bulls, bears, and other animals. Even Italy’s Venetian carnivals featured bull baiting, with crowds gathering in piazzas to watch the carnage.
This widespread cruelty extended beyond animals. The same European nations that championed baiting, including England, were complicit in the transatlantic slave trade, revealing a broader pattern of dehumanization and depravity in the early modern world. While animal fighting and slavery persist illegally today, humanity’s evolving relationship with animals reflects a growing rejection of such brutality, though the echoes of this dark past linger.
Bear baiting was outlawed in England in 1835, a milestone driven by the establishment of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in 1824. Yet, the study’s significance extends beyond Bankside. Its innovative model for analyzing zooarchaeological assemblages allows researchers to identify or rule out bear baiting at sites worldwide, even without supporting documentation. This approach promises to shed light on similar practices in other regions where baiting once flourished.
The findings are a stark reminder of how far humanity has come—and how far it still has to go. What was once celebrated as grand entertainment now horrifies us, exposing the twisted values of our ancestors. As we uncover these brutal truths, we are challenged to reflect on our own relationship with animals and the legacy of cruelty we must continue to confront.