A new archaeological study sheds light on one of the most dramatic aspects of Roman spectacles - bloody fights between humans and wild animals. A human skeleton found in an ancient Roman necropolis near modern-day York, UK, bears the bite marks of a lion.
This, scientists say, is the first reliable archaeological evidence that such battles actually took place in provincial parts of the
Roman Empire, well beyond the Colosseum.
Although descriptions and depictions of such fights are widely represented in ancient sources, from mosaics to the writings of Roman historians, until recently archaeologists have had no conclusive evidence in the form of human remains to confirm the participation of gladiators or other fighters in battles with large predators. The new discovery changes that picture.
Professor Tim Thompson, a specialist in forensic anthropology from Maynooth University in Ireland and one of the lead authors of the study, states that "this is the first time we have indisputable material evidence that a human was likely involved in a spectacular fight with a big cat such as a lion. And it didn't happen in Rome, but in a remote British province."
The research was conducted on the site of an ancient Roman cemetery known as Driffield Terrace, which has been excavated for more than two decades. Here, archaeologists found about 80 skeletons of decapitated men - most of them were in their prime, physically fit and had numerous injuries, suggesting they may have been gladiators. Some of the remains were accompanied by animal remains, including
horses, which is also atypical for common burials.
Of particular interest were the bones of a man aged 26-35, buried in the same grave with two other men and surrounded by horse bones. Deep punctures and lesions were found on his pelvis, which for a long time were thought to be traces of animal impact - probably rodents.
However, after years of analysis, including a study of forensic literature and comparison with animal bone injuries, it became clear that these marks were left by a large predator, a lion.
Photo: theguardian.com
However, scientists note the unusual location of the marks - on the pelvis. According to Tom Thompson, this could indicate that the person was already injured or dead when the animal bit it. "Big cats typically attack the victim's head or neck to instantly immobilize it. Damage to the pelvis suggests that the body may have already been lying on the ground and the animal simply grabbed it by that part of the body," he says.
The Roman tradition of gladiatorial fights included not only duels between humans: a special kind of entertainment was fights involving wild animals, and fighters called bestiarii fought lions, tigers, bears, and other dangerous animals.
Such fights were held both in the capital of the empire and in remote provinces, where amphitheaters and training camps for gladiators were built.
Dr. John Pearce of King's College London, co-author of the study, emphasizes that York was not just a city in those days, but a major Roman military center, second only to Londinium (modern-day London). "It is possible that York had a school for gladiators associated with the local legion, and fighters who died in the arena were buried nearby by their comrades," Pearce believes.
However, if these people did participate in animal fights, the question arises: where was the arena located? Today's York is a city with a rich historical heritage, and many of its buildings are sites of cultural significance. This makes excavation much more difficult. "We are sure the arena was there, but getting to it is extremely difficult. Anything can hide underneath modern development," Thompson says.
This discovery raises another intriguing question: how exactly did the lions get to Britain? Scientists suggest that the animals were shipped by sea from North Africa, which in itself is a logistical feat of antiquity.
"This finding changes the very nature of the debate," Thompson summarizes. "It confirms that animal spectacles were not just a metropolitan phenomenon, but part of life in far-flung corners of the empire. Yet there are still many mysteries before us, from the logistics of delivering the predators to the fate of those who came face to face with them."