First Evidence of Gladiator Mauled by Lion Unearthed in Roman Britain!
Archaeologists have uncovered compelling new evidence of violent events that once took place in Roman Britain—far from the grand amphitheatres of Rome. A recently studied skeleton from York, England, dating back to the third century CE, shows clear signs of a deadly encounter with a large predatory cat, most likely a lion. Researchers believe this is the first physical proof of human-animal combat from the Roman period found anywhere in Europe.
The remains, belonging to a man aged between 26 and 35, were originally unearthed nearly 20 years ago at Driffield Terrace, a burial site near the ancient Roman city of Eboracum—what we now know as York. This site has long been associated with gladiator graves, given the high number of decapitations and evidence of a violent, physically demanding lifestyle visible in the bones.
Photo Credit: Thompson et al., PLOS One (2025), CC-BY 4.0
New research, led by Professor Tim Thompson of Maynooth University and published in PLOS ONE, confirms that the man's pelvis bears bite marks matching those made by a large cat, such as a lion, leopard, or tiger. Using 3D scanning technology and comparisons with zoo animal bite patterns, the team concluded that the injuries were likely sustained during the man’s final moments.
“The shape is completely consistent with large cat bites,” the researchers explained. They noted that while the bites were not directly fatal, they occurred either as the man was dying or very soon after. This suggests scavenging behaviour rather than an outright attack.
Adding to the intrigue, the man had been decapitated—a common characteristic among the more than 80 skeletons discovered at the site, dating from the first to fourth centuries CE. Researchers propose that the beheading could have been either a mercy killing to end the man's suffering or part of Roman ritual practices.
Photo Credit: Thompson et al., PLOS One (2025), CC-BY 4.0
What makes this discovery particularly striking is how rare physical evidence of gladiators fighting wild animals actually is. Although Roman art and literature frequently portray such brutal contests—known as venationes—skeletal proof has been almost non-existent until now.
Transporting a lion to the remote outpost of Britain would have been an extraordinary feat, involving long journeys by sea, river, and land. It is thought that the animal would have originated from North Africa, given that Britain had no native big cats.
Whether the man was a professional gladiator or a prisoner condemned to die in the arena remains unknown. However, the discovery paints a vivid and brutal picture of life—and death—in Roman Britain, even on the very edges of the empire.