Bite marks found on a skeleton discovered in a Roman cemetery in York have revealed the first archaeological evidence of combat between a human and a lion in ancient Rome. This discovery, published in the journal PLoS One, is the final piece of research that began in 2004 and has shed light on the life and death of gladiators in one of the best-preserved necropolises in the world.

The skeleton, belonging to a man aged between 26 and 35, was excavated at Driffield Terrace, a Roman cemetery 1,800 years old located next to the road connecting York to Tadcaster. In 2010, researchers announced the analysis of 82 skeletons of young, robust men, whose characteristics—such as healed trauma and unusual muscle development—suggested they were gladiators.

The definitive clue came with the discovery of bite wounds on one of the skeletons. According to Malin Holst, osteoarchaeologist at the University of York and director of York Osteoarchaeology, the marks match those of a lion, confirming that these men were gladiators and not soldiers or slaves, as initially believed.

gladiator lion york
Lesions on the skeleton found, produced by the bite of a lion. Credit: T.J.U. Thompson et al.

This is the first osteological confirmation of interaction between humans and large carnivores in a combat or entertainment context in the Roman world, explained Holst. The wound, compared to lion bites at a zoo, showed no signs of healing, suggesting it was the cause of death.

Furthermore, the individual was decapitated after death, a ritual practice whose purpose remains a mystery. The analysis of his remains also revealed he suffered from spinal issues due to overexertion, inflammation in the lung and thigh, and childhood malnutrition, from which he recovered.

Experts believe this man was a bestiarius, a type of gladiator who fought wild animals. Contrary to common belief, these combats did not only take place in the Colosseum in Rome but also in peripheral cities like York, where an undiscovered amphitheater likely existed.

We have a mental image of these spectacles in Rome, but these findings show they went much further, said Holst. York hosted gladiatorial events until the 4th century CE, possibly due to the presence of high-ranking military and political figures, such as Emperor Constantine, who proclaimed himself ruler in the city in 306 CE.

gladiator lion york
Statue of Constantine the Great in York. Credit: York Minster / Wikimedia Commons

Although the combats were violent, gladiator owners did not want them to die. They were expensive ‘athletes,’ similar to today’s soccer players, Holst explained. They were trained to win and, if they died, were often buried with offerings for the afterlife. This is seen in some graves at Driffield Terrace, where bodies are accompanied by horse bones and other objects.

For Tim Thompson, professor at Maynooth University (Ireland), this finding changes our perception of Roman culture: For years, we relied on historical texts and art. Now we have direct physical evidence of these spectacles.

The skeleton will be displayed at DIG: An Archaeological Adventure, a museum in St Saviourgate that includes a facial reconstruction of the gladiator. David Jennings, director of York Archaeology, highlighted the importance of the discovery: It gives us an extraordinary view of this man’s life and death, and reinforces genetic research on the origins of those buried here.

Although we may never know what led this gladiator to the arena, his story confirms that York was a key setting for a spectacle that, until now, we only associated with Rome. The research, carried out in collaboration with various universities and experts, closes a chapter that began nearly two decades ago beneath the soil of an ancient Roman city.

SOURCES

University of York

Maynooth University

Thompson TJU, Errickson D, McDonnell C, Holst M, Caffell A, Pearce J, et al. (2025) Unique osteological evidence for human-animal gladiatorial combat in Roman Britain. PLoS ONE 20(4): e0319847. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319847

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