Groundbreaking Discovery Confirms Gladiators Fought Animals in Roman Britain
Mythology/Folklore/History
Today (8 hours ago)
4 minute read.
Researchers have confirmed the first physical evidence of gladiators fighting wild animals during the Roman period, with the discovery of bite marks on the pelvic bone of an individual found in a Roman-period cemetery outside York. The groundbreaking study was led by Professor Tim Thompson, a Professor of Anthropology and Vice President for Students & Learning at Maynooth University in County Kildare, Ireland.
The findings, published in the journal PLoS One, are the result of extensive forensic analysis. The pelvic bone, which was uncovered several years ago during construction work, shows clear evidence of bite marks believed to have been made by a large carnivore, such as a lion. Professor Thompson explained the significance of the discovery:
“What we’ve found is evidence of a bite mark from a large carnivore like a lion. This is quite exciting because this is the first time that we have had physical evidence of gladiators fighting in the Roman period in the world. Everything else is written, text or pictures, but this is physical evidence from the body itself."
The bite marks are characterised by impressions left by canine teeth and incisors, which suggest that the individual was attacked by a lion, likely after being incapacitated. “We think that the individual had been incapacitated in some way, and that the lion then grabbed onto him and was dragging him away,” Professor Thompson added.
The site where the remains were found is believed to contain the graves of around 20 individuals, many of whom are thought to have been gladiators. The graves revealed signs of repeated violence and trauma, with many of the remains showing evidence of severe injuries, including decapitation.
Professor Thompson noted, “There was redevelopment on the edge of York and, as part of that, the archaeological investigation revealed these graves. These individuals in the graves had lots of heel trauma, lots of evidence of repeated violence. It was very male dominated, and individuals had been decapitated."
The discovery sheds new light on the history of Roman Britain and the role of gladiatorial combat beyond the core of the Roman Empire. Gladiator battles were not confined to the grand arenas of Rome; smaller, regional arenas existed throughout the Roman Empire, including in Britain.
“That sense of spectacle and arena activities was prevalent across the Roman Empire and that was, in a way, how the Roman Empire was able to create cultural connectivity between the provinces,” Professor Thompson said. “We see arenas, not as grand as the Colosseum, but around the Empire, and we have examples from the UK. It also gives us an insight into the transport of these exotic animals around the Roman Empire.”
The remains of gladiators in Roman Britain suggest that the games were part of a larger Roman cultural framework, where the spectacle of gladiatorial combat extended to far-flung corners of the empire.
Forensic technology played a crucial role in the analysis of the bite marks. Researchers worked with zoos to compare bite marks left by lions and other large carnivores, helping to confirm that the marks on the pelvic bone were consistent with those of a lion's attack. Professor Thompson emphasised the importance of forensic techniques in understanding ancient trauma: “We’re used to seeing animal activity on human remains, but we know from forensic studies that different species of animals leave different sorts of marks. We know that they attack in different sorts of ways."
While no evidence of lions attacking people had previously been found in the UK or Ireland, the study’s results provide valuable insight into the transport of exotic animals for entertainment purposes during the Roman period.
The research was a collaboration between Maynooth University, Cranfield University, Durham University, the University of York, King’s College London, York Archaeological Trust (now known as York Archaeology), and York Osteoarchaeology Ltd.
Professor Thompson, reflecting on the discovery, said: “It’s always fantastic when you’re discovering something genuinely unique and to be able to offer that to the academic community, but also just to people who are interested in this subject as well as part of our collective history.”
This finding marks a significant step forward in the study of gladiatorial combat and its impact on the Roman world, particularly in regions like Roman Britain where evidence of such practices had previously been scarce.
The findings, published in the journal PLoS One, are the result of extensive forensic analysis. The pelvic bone, which was uncovered several years ago during construction work, shows clear evidence of bite marks believed to have been made by a large carnivore, such as a lion. Professor Thompson explained the significance of the discovery:
“What we’ve found is evidence of a bite mark from a large carnivore like a lion. This is quite exciting because this is the first time that we have had physical evidence of gladiators fighting in the Roman period in the world. Everything else is written, text or pictures, but this is physical evidence from the body itself."
The bite marks are characterised by impressions left by canine teeth and incisors, which suggest that the individual was attacked by a lion, likely after being incapacitated. “We think that the individual had been incapacitated in some way, and that the lion then grabbed onto him and was dragging him away,” Professor Thompson added.
The site where the remains were found is believed to contain the graves of around 20 individuals, many of whom are thought to have been gladiators. The graves revealed signs of repeated violence and trauma, with many of the remains showing evidence of severe injuries, including decapitation.
Professor Thompson noted, “There was redevelopment on the edge of York and, as part of that, the archaeological investigation revealed these graves. These individuals in the graves had lots of heel trauma, lots of evidence of repeated violence. It was very male dominated, and individuals had been decapitated."
The discovery sheds new light on the history of Roman Britain and the role of gladiatorial combat beyond the core of the Roman Empire. Gladiator battles were not confined to the grand arenas of Rome; smaller, regional arenas existed throughout the Roman Empire, including in Britain.
“That sense of spectacle and arena activities was prevalent across the Roman Empire and that was, in a way, how the Roman Empire was able to create cultural connectivity between the provinces,” Professor Thompson said. “We see arenas, not as grand as the Colosseum, but around the Empire, and we have examples from the UK. It also gives us an insight into the transport of these exotic animals around the Roman Empire.”
The remains of gladiators in Roman Britain suggest that the games were part of a larger Roman cultural framework, where the spectacle of gladiatorial combat extended to far-flung corners of the empire.
Forensic technology played a crucial role in the analysis of the bite marks. Researchers worked with zoos to compare bite marks left by lions and other large carnivores, helping to confirm that the marks on the pelvic bone were consistent with those of a lion's attack. Professor Thompson emphasised the importance of forensic techniques in understanding ancient trauma: “We’re used to seeing animal activity on human remains, but we know from forensic studies that different species of animals leave different sorts of marks. We know that they attack in different sorts of ways."
While no evidence of lions attacking people had previously been found in the UK or Ireland, the study’s results provide valuable insight into the transport of exotic animals for entertainment purposes during the Roman period.
The research was a collaboration between Maynooth University, Cranfield University, Durham University, the University of York, King’s College London, York Archaeological Trust (now known as York Archaeology), and York Osteoarchaeology Ltd.
Professor Thompson, reflecting on the discovery, said: “It’s always fantastic when you’re discovering something genuinely unique and to be able to offer that to the academic community, but also just to people who are interested in this subject as well as part of our collective history.”
This finding marks a significant step forward in the study of gladiatorial combat and its impact on the Roman world, particularly in regions like Roman Britain where evidence of such practices had previously been scarce.
