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Coverage dated April 22, 2025

A lion’s bite marks a fatal fight with a possible Roman-era gladiator

Headline from Science News

The first skeletal evidence of a gladiator show or execution involving an exotic animal comes from a Roman British man with bite marks from a lion.

Science News's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

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Reports & sources

5 articles, oldest first.

  1. The Guardian

    Bite marks on York skeleton reveal first evidence of ‘gladiators’ fighting lions (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Study offers rare insight into human-animal combat during Roman empire

  2. Science News

    A lion’s bite marks a fatal fight with a possible Roman-era gladiator (opens Science News)

    Published

    Science News's feed description

    The first skeletal evidence of a gladiator show or execution involving an exotic animal comes from a Roman British man with bite marks from a lion.

  3. ZME Science

    A Roman gladiator died fighting a lion in England and his 1,800-year-old skeleton proves it (opens ZME Science)

    Published

    ZME Science's feed description

    It's the first-ever evidence of man-lion combat found in the Roman period.

  4. Gizmodo

    Lion Bite Marks on 1,800-Year-Old Skeleton Confirm Gladiators Fought in Roman Britain (opens Gizmodo)

    Published

    Gizmodo's feed description

    Researchers compared puncture marks on an 1,800-year-old skeleton in the UK to various animal bites, and concluded that the individual was likely bitten by a lion.

  5. Phys

    Research reveals first skeletal evidence of gladiator bitten by lion in Roman period (opens Phys)

    Published

    Phys's feed description

    A study has uncovered the first physical evidence of human-animal gladiatorial combat in the Roman period.