Strange question for histroy buffs?

Question

In the dark ages (mostly) people were put in to small cages as punishment. They were to small to stand or sit and were domed on top. Sometimes they were put outside so birds could peck at the people. The slang was crows nest becuase of that. But what was the real name? Thanks

Answer 1

Looks like they may have just been called Hanging Cages:

http://www.angelfire.com/goth/nitecreatures/torture.html

Answer 2

I thought a crows nest was that high perch on a ship?

Answer 3

Death cage is what it was normally called.