Archaeologists have published the first fossil evidence that brown bears (Ursus arctos) fought alongside human gladiators in Roman amphitheaters, in a study recently published in the journal Antiquity. This is the first direct osteological evidence of brown bears' participation in Roman spectacles and their use in gladiatorial arenas. The discovery was based on a fragmented skull excavated in 2016 near the entrance to the amphitheater in Viminacium, in what is now Serbia, along with the remains of other animals, including a leopard.
A multidisciplinary team studied the remains using anthropology, microscopic analysis, radiography, and ancient DNA sequencing. Ancient DNA from the bones showed that the bear was male and came from the local Balkan population, which was confirmed by comparisons with contemporary populations. This indicates that bears were hunted locally and sent to Viminacium, the capital of the Roman province of Upper Moesia, and that the organizers relied on nearby game rather than distant imports, which were costly and risky.
Radiographic and microscopic analysis revealed a blow to the frontal part of the head: the skull had a traumatic fracture of the frontal bone and a large lesion with signs of overgrowth and infection. Researchers estimated that the bear was about six years old at the time of death and that it lived about 1,700 years ago. "We cannot say with certainty whether the bear died directly in the arena, but the evidence indicates that the trauma occurred during the spectacle and that the subsequent infection likely contributed significantly to its death," said Nemanja Marković, lead author of the study from the Archaeological Institute in Belgrade, according to a report in the New York Post.
Archaeologists believe that the bear fought and died in the amphitheater in Viminacium, an important Roman settlement and military base on the border from the 2nd century CE. Radiocarbon dating of animal bones from the site showed a period between 240 and 350 CE.
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The traumatic injury was probably inflicted by a hunter with a spear, which corresponds to a blow with a weapon that would be used by a person accustomed to fighting animals in Roman games. It is not known what kind of spectacle the bear was forced to participate in, but morning programs usually included animal fights, duels between hunters and beasts, hunting scenes, and displays; the bear could have been pitted against other animals or hunters, and they were also used for the execution of convicts during daytime performances, as well as for trained performances.
Analysis of the skull also revealed signs of prolonged confinement: excessive and unnatural wear on the eye sockets indicated gnawing on the bars, suggesting a long stay behind metal bars. Traces of repeated gnawing, tooth decay, and infection of the molars were found, probably due to poor conditions and limited food. Experts concluded that the condition of the teeth indicates that the bear was not brought to a single performance, but lived in captivity for a long time and appeared in several performances. Marković stated that the bear was probably kept for years, with repeated appearances in Roman games in the Viminacium.
The discovery of an animal bone "graveyard" in the Viminacium, where the remains of a black bear and a leopard were found, has called into question the earlier interpretation that animals killed in the arena were routinely dismembered for use. The discovery provides insight into the role of black bears in spectacles throughout the Roman Empire, where they served as exhibition animals, gladiator opponents, and executioners of condemned criminals. Roman writers described bloody performances in amphitheaters throughout the empire, and ancient texts recorded the transport of bears from regions such as Lucania, Caledonia, North Africa, and the Balkans to games in Rome. Among the animals that appeared in amphitheaters were boars, bulls, leopards, dogs, and lions.
Researchers have suggested that civilians and professional hunters may have been involved in capturing the beasts. The team believes that their findings provide insight into the fate of animals forced to participate in Roman public entertainment and offer compelling evidence of the complex and often violent relationship between humans and wild animals in the ancient world. Last spring, archaeologists in York, England, discovered skeletal evidence that gladiators fought lions to satisfy the bloodthirsty tastes of audiences in ancient Rome.