The ruined skull of a brown bear, discovered near a Roman amphitheater in Serbia, reveals that the wildlife had been bred for years and fought the infection when it died about 1,700 years ago.
This finding is the first direct evidence of the use of bears in gladiator arenas, and proof of the wildness of the animal glasses of the Roman Empire.
“We cannot say for certain whether the bear died directly in the arena, but the evidence suggests that trauma occurred between the glasses and subsequent infections likely contributed significantly to that death,” Nemaja Markovich, a senior researcher at the Institute of Archaeology in Belgrade, told Live Science.
In an ancient study published on Monday (September 1), Markovic and colleagues detailed an analysis of a fragmentary skull of a brown bear (Ursus arctos) excavated in 2016 near the amphitheater of Biminasium, the Roman Army base of Serbia.
The Biminasium amphitheater was built with high oval walls from the second century and could seat around 7,000 people. Archaeologists have retrieved the bear skull near the entrance to the amphitheater and, along with the bones of many other animals, including leopard bones, in the study.
“Previous studies suggest that animals killed in the arena were slaughtered nearby, meat was distributed and bones were discarded near the amphitheater.
The bears who were forced to participate in these ancient glasses had a variety of roles. They were able to fight the “Venator,” a gladiator who specializes in hunting. To fight with other animals; to run prisoners. Or give a trained performance.
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Researchers’ analysis of brown bear skulls revealed how cruel these glasses are for animals.
Using ancient DNA analysis, researchers determined that the bear was male and was from a local area, and his teeth suggested that he was about six years old when he died. Carbon dating of animal bones from the area where bears were found gave an AD 240-350 date range where Viminacium Amphitheater regularly hosted Gladiatorial Games.
The large lesion on the front of the bear’s skull shows signs of healing and also shows signs of infection, suggesting that he is struggling with death injuries. This traumatic injury could have been caused by a “Venator” with a spear, the researchers wrote in their study.
The animal’s jaw also showed evidence of infection, and researchers identified abnormal wear on his dog’s teeth. Prisoner bears are known to bite cage bars, researchers point out, which could lead to dental and jaw problems like those found in this ancient bear.
“It’s likely that the bear had been taken prisoner for years, not just weeks,” Markovich said.
Although historical records mention the use of brown bears in gladiator glasses, “the study provides the first direct osteologic evidence of brown bears’ participation in Roman glasses,” the researchers conclude, giving a glimpse into the use and treatment of animals in the Roman Empire.
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