First physical evidence found of gladiators fighting wild animals

Scientists have uncovered the first physical evidence of a Roman gladiator fighting a wild animal: bite marks from a large cat, probably a lion, on the pelvis of a man buried in a gladiator cemetery in York, England. The study, published in PLOS One, confirms what was previously only suggested by ancient texts and mosaics.

The remains, dated to the 3rd century AD, were found at Driffield Terrace, the best-preserved Roman gladiatorial cemetery known. 3D scans and comparisons with zoo specimens revealed that the man - aged between 26 and 35 - was likely bitten and dragged by the hip, suggesting he was already collapsed or severely injured when the lion attacked.

Mercy killing

Forensic anthropologist Tim Thompson, lead author of the study, noted that the bites occurred close to the time of death. The man had also been decapitated, possibly as a mercy killing, and was buried with two others, their bodies covered in horse bones. Evidence of a muscular build and skeletal injuries suggest a life of intense physical exertion.

Unique osteological evidence for human-animal gladiatorial combat in Roman Britain

The spectacle of Roman gladiatorial combat captures the public imagination and elicits significant scholarly interest. Skeletal evidence associated with gladiatorial combat is rare, with most evidence deriving from written or visual sources. A single skeleton from a Roman cemetery outside of York where gladiators arguably were buried presented with unusual lesions. Investigation, including comparative work from modern zoological institutions, has demonstrated that these marks originate from large cat scavenging. Thus, we present the first physical evidence for human-animal gladiatorial combat from the Roman period seen anywhere in Europe.

plosone

This discovery not only confirms human-animal combat in the Roman arena, but shows that such spectacles reached as far afield as Britannia. Lions, bears, elephants and other exotic animals were used in gladiatorial games throughout the Empire, not just in Rome, and sometimes for executions.

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