Channel 4 has investigated 80 skeletons found at an archaeological dig in York, depicting the ferocity of gladiator fights.
According to media reports, the 80 skeletons were found during an excavation at Driffield Terrace in Holgate, most of them were tall and strong Roman era men.
The television documentary – Gladiator: Back from the Dead – explores the theory that these men were gladiators based on evidence, including that some may have been injured in amphitheater fights, most notably bite marks from large predators such as tigers or bears.
These men were also all buried with some respect, and their final resting places included grave goods and chunks of meat – making it unlikely they were executed criminals.
But the theory that they were gladiators remains controversial. So far, there is no evidence that an amphitheater was found at York, nor has there been any definitive conclusion that the men were injured.
They were probably caused in combat, and no one was injured by weapons like the three-pronged trident that certain types of gladiators used exclusively.
John Walker, executive director of the York Archaeological Foundation, said: “This is a fascinating discovery that offers real insight into the world of interpretive archaeology.”
“In archaeology, one rarely deals with concrete issues. There is almost always an ‘maybe’ and a ‘probable’ component, and the archaeologist’s job is to weigh the evidence and make an informed judgment about the most likely explanation.”
