Defrosting Cold Cases

Archaeologists believe that they may have found the world’s best-preserved gladiator cemetery after noticing animal bite marks and combat injuries on some of the 80, mainly headless, Roman skeletons unearthed at a site in the city of York in northern England.

“At present our lead theory is that many of these skeletons are those of Roman gladiators,” said Kurt Hunter-Mann of York Archaeological Trust, who is leading the excavations.

Forensic anthropologist at the University of Central Lancashire, Michael Wysocki, who examined the remains, called the find an internationally significant discovery. “We don’t have any other potential gladiator cemeteries with this level of preservation anywhere else in the world,” he said.

The breakthrough came when detailed forensic research showed bite marks and a number of bone injuries, healed and unhealed, that are consistent with gladiatorial combat. “One of the most significant items of evidence is a large carnivore bite mark — probably inflicted by a lion, tiger or bear — an injury which must have been sustained in an arena context,” Hunter-Mann said.

The fact that most of the remains were from well-built young males with evidence of much stronger right-arm muscular development also supported the arena link. Roman historical records describe slaves beginning their training as gladiators in their teenage years.

Interested? The Reuters article is here.

Categories: Forensics, Miscellaneous

Tags: Gladiators, UK