Animal

Animals crop up in many areas of the SCA:

• Feasts: All manner of animals, from birds and beasts, to rodents and fish, can be marinated, boiled, stewed, roasted, baked, fried, stuffed, preserved and eaten!

• Heraldry: Animals can be used as heraldic charges.

• A&S:
  • rearing of animals: falconry
  • animal products:
    • skin (Leatherwork)
    • fur - to line or decorate clothing
    • wool spinning and weaving
    • felt - made by compressing wool or fur
    • flesh cooking (subtleties, or as mentioned above under 'feasts')
    • feathers & millinery (feathers, felt or leather can be used)
    • horn - used to make a variety of objects including tablet weaving cards
    • ivory - a denser type of horn from elephant, hippopotamus or walrus, prized to make carved objects e.g. cosmetic cases, chess pieces, statues,
    • bones - make a variety of objects including spoons, needles, statuettes and games and toys (e.g. knucklebones, children's teething rings). Also food setting agents e.g. gelatine (Is this medieval? I'm sure marrow was)
    • fertilizer
    • misc - dyes (various bits from animals were used in pigments/paints and dyestuffs) e.g. tyrian purple from molluscs, perfumes (musk from deer)
  • depictions of animals: embroidery (animals are depicted), weaving

• Combat: Some parts of the SCA permit equestrian events. Various animals are used in war scenarios (not real ones, of course!), such as goat/sheep stealing or hunting of the deer. Stuffed sheep also make excellent combat archery targets.