Mystery of the Headless Romans
Gladiators
Most of the burials in the cemetery were of adults and almost all male, suggesting an unusual group of people.
These people were on average about 2cms taller than the average Romano-British male, and they are also more robust.
In about a third of the cases, one arm was at least 5mm longer than the other. This suggests one-sided work (not general manual labour) from an early age, perhaps representing prolonged sword practice, although other occupations may also cause the over-development of one arm, such as archery or blacksmithing.
The right humerus of this skeleton is 18mm longer than the left, due to prolonged exercise from an early age.
Amphitheatres were built all around the Roman Empire and it is assumed York had one, so the presence of gladiators at York would not be surprising.
Blunt force trauma (blows to the head) found on a small number of the York skeletons resembles methods that were used to kill vanquished or dying gladiators. In the arena, a slave dressed as the god of the Underworld and armed with a large iron mallet despatched any fatally wounded gladiator with a blow to the head; this also made sure of any who might have been shamming!
Multiple other wounds at the time of death point to a violent end.
Blunt force trauma to skull: pelvis with carnivore toothmarks
One person was bitten around the hip by a large carnivore (bear, lion or tiger). Animal hunts and man versus animal fights were common events in the arena. These were undertaken by bestiarii or venatores, specialised animal fighters who were distinct from gladiators. However, this may also represent a common Roman method of execution, captives or criminals being thrown to the wild beasts (damnatio ad bestias).
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