During the Middle Ages, the Elbląg area was inhabited by many animal species that are no longer found nearby, such as bears, moose, wolves, or the now extinct aurochs. Their presence is confirmed by the inventories of the Teutonic conventual castles near Elbląg, which list aurochs lard, bear lard and blades, and even barrels of bear meat. Fishing was also an important part of life in the old Elbląg. The inhabitants’ menu included both salt and freshwater fish such as turbot, pike, ruffe, flounder, and the highly prized and sought-after sturgeon.
Illustrations:
Aurochs (a now extinct species that was still found in Prussia in the 17th century). Christoph Johann Hartknoch, Alt- und Neues Preussen oder Preussischer Historien zwey Theile, Frankfurt am Main and Leipzig: Johann Andreas, 1684. Hartknoch borrowed the illustration from the book by Siegmund von Heberstein (1486-1566), Rerum Moscovitarum commentarii.
Aurochs. Hartknoch borrowed the illustration from the book by Caspar Hennenberg (1529-1600), a cartographer.
European bison. Hartknoch borrowed the illustration from the book by Siegmund von Heberstein (1486-1566), Rerum Moscovitarum commentarii.
Moose (here called in German the Elend-Thier ).
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