First Physical Evidence of Gladiators Fighting Lions Discovered on Roman Skeleton

Archaeologists have uncovered the first physical proof that Roman gladiators once fought lions, not in Rome, but in ancient Britain.

New forensic analysis of a skeleton found in York reveals fatal injuries likely caused by a lion attack, shedding light on the brutal world of Roman arena combat far from the Colosseum.

The remains, discovered in 2004 at Driffield Terrace, belong to a man aged between 26 and 35. The site is believed to be the world’s only known Roman gladiator cemetery.

For years, it offered clues about life in the arena, but now one skeleton is rewriting what historians know about animal combat in Roman Britain.

Researchers confirm wounds match lion bite marks

Experts found bite marks and puncture wounds on the man’s pelvis. Researchers identified the attacker as a lion using 3D scanning and comparisons with bite samples from big cats at London Zoo.

According to lead researcher Professor Tim Thompson of Maynooth University in Ireland, the injuries occurred around the time of death. “So this wasn’t an animal scavenging after the individual died,” Thompson said. “The bite marks in this particular individual match those of a lion.”

The location of the wounds tells a deeper story. Thompson noted that lions don’t typically bite the pelvis when attacking prey, suggesting the man may have been injured or unable to fight back when the lion struck.

“We think this gladiator was fighting in some sort of spectacle and was incapacitated,” he said. “The lion bit him and dragged him away by his hip.”

The grave contained multiple skeletons and animal remains

The skeleton was buried alongside two others, with horse bones layered above them. Previous research suggested the man may have been a Bestiarius, a class of gladiator trained to fight wild animals.

Malin Holst, a senior lecturer in osteoarchaeology at the University of York, stated that the bite marks were unlike anything she had encountered in three decades of work. She explained that the individual’s bones exhibit signs of a hard life—strong muscle attachments, damage to the spine and shoulder—all consistent with heavy labor or repeated combat.

Discovery adds weight to the theory of the York amphitheatre

The findings published in PLOS One confirm that large predators, such as lions, were used in Roman arenas outside the Italian heartland. This discovery also strengthens the case that a Roman amphitheater once existed in York, even though no structure has been found yet.

Researchers believe the presence of high-ranking Roman officials in ancient York supports the idea. Gladiator games, especially those involving wild animals, were often used to impress elites and display power.

David Jennings, chief executive of York Archaeology, said the location where the Roman gladiators fought lions adds to its significance. “We may never know what brought this man to the arena where we believe he may have been fighting for the entertainment of others.”

“It is remarkable that the first osteoarchaeological evidence for this kind of gladiatorial combat has been found so far from the Colosseum of Rome, which would have been the classical world’s Wembley Stadium of combat,” Jennings added.