Gladiator’s Skeleton Reveals Lion Attack Evidence!

Each month, numerous captivating scientific discoveries emerge, making it challenging to cover them all in depth. In an innovative approach this year, we are launching a series of monthly compilations to highlight remarkable research that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. The April edition features a range of intriguing topics, from tattooed tardigrades to the first live image of a colossal baby squid, along with the digital revival of a recently found Merlin manuscript and an ancient Roman gladiator whose remains show evidence of having been gnawed by a lion.

Gladiator and the Lion Encounter

Traditional representations of Roman gladiators often include their combat not only against fellow humans but also against wild beasts. Evidence from historical texts and artifacts suggests that such encounters were common, but concrete physical evidence has been sparse. Recently, archaeologists uncovered what is believed to be the first direct osteological proof: the remains of a Roman gladiator who likely faced a wild animal in the arena, with bite marks on the pelvic bone indicating a lion’s attack, as detailed in a study published in PLoS ONE.

The skeleton belonged to a young male, estimated to be between 26 and 35 years old, interred between 200 and 300 CE in the vicinity of York, England, which was once known as Eboracum during Roman times. This site has yielded multiple skeletons, predominantly of young men displaying signs of trauma, leading researchers to propose it may serve as a gladiator burial ground. Co-author Tim Thompson from Maynooth University explained the innovative technique used to analyze the skeleton: “We applied a method called structured light scanning. This technique produces a 3D model using grids of light, differing from X-ray or CT scans, which capture only internal features. It is a safer, more economical, and portable solution that we’ve successfully utilized in both archaeological and forensic investigations.”

The research team examined pelvic injuries on the skeleton and compared them with bite marks from modern animal specimens, determining that the young man had most likely been bitten by a “large feline species,” presumably a scavenging lion shortly after his death. Following his demise, the individual had been decapitated, a practice that may have held ritual significance for some in Roman society. Although the evidence is based on circumstantial findings, Thompson expressed confidence in their conclusions: “By employing a multidisciplinary approach and incorporating contemporary zoological comparisons, we have enhanced our confidence in these results.”