What do we know about castle kitchens and their management? : forty years of excavations of Rokštejn Castle

Abstract

Castle kitchens represent specific features of fortified residences, along with their management and operation. This article focuses on the contemporary understanding of this topic. The methodological case study is represented by Rokštejn Castle which has been excavated since 1981, and which allows observing the evolution of castle kitchens, not only in relation to time, but also to the dynamic remodelling of the castle following the changes in castle ownership. The archaeological features with artefactual and ecofactual material represent the functioning of the kitchens and the consequent waste management of the castle that might contain evidence of the dining culture of its inhabitants.