Tag: York

York’s ‘Headless Romans’ (gladiators, according to some) had exotic origins and diet

One of the 'Headless Romans' found at Driffield Terrace, York. It clearly has a displaced skull. - Image York Archaeological TrustIn 2004, agroup of 80 individuals were discovered at Driffield Terrace, in York. They were buried between the late 1st and early 4th centuries AD, on a large cemetery on the outskirts of Eboracum, the Roman town of York.

They are unusual because they are all believed to be male,most are adults and more than half had been decapitated. When these 30 bodies were buried some got their heads in the right place on their shoulders. Others saw their heads placed between their knees, on their chests or down by their feet. In one double burial the two bodies even had had their heads swapped over.

Exotic Origins and Diet

Where these ‘headless Romans’ native Yorkshire-men or incomers, and might their origins be linked to the way they were buried? New research using isotope analysis has shown that the ‘Headless Romans’ found in a cemetery in York came from as far away as Eastern Europe.

A group of archaeological scientists from the University of Reading and the NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory in Nottingham took samples of teeth and bone and analysed isotopes atoms of the same element with different atomic weights of strontium, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen.

Scientists normally just look at strontium and oxygen isotopic systems to work out someone’s origins. But this time the archaeologists looked at the four isotopes together, combining information about the individual’s diet with the type of climate and geological setting they grew up in. At least two had a diet rich in plant probably millet that wasn’t grown in Britain at that time.

If anything, it’s the diversity of their backgrounds rather than any common origin that was the defining feature for this group of burials.

This approach was very important in this case, because it has given us information about these unusual burials that would have been missed if only strontium and oxygen had been analysed, said Dr Gundula Mldner of the University of Reading.

Isotopes are absorbed by our teeth and bones from our food, drinking water and the air. Their proportions vary around the world due either to differences in regional geology or climate, so they provide important clues about where individuals grew up or spent most of their lives.

It’s the first time that consumers of C4 plant products have been reported for any archaeological period in Britain, said Dr Mldner. Oxygen (O) and strontium (Sr) are fixed in dental enamel as our teeth form. The enamel doesn’t change much subsequently, so oxygen and strontium levels can be matched fairly closely to the geology and climate of the place we grew up.

Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotopes are absorbed from our food and can be measured from dentine or bone collagen samples. They tell scientists about terrestrial and marine foods in an individual’s diet as well as the balance of plant and animal protein. They also distinguish plants that photosynthesis in different ways to produce different proportions of the isotopes C3 and C4.

However, as most diets look similar, isotopically speaking, over large parts of temperate Europe, C and N isotopes are not usually thought particularly useful for understanding how people have moved around.

From the 80 individuals discovered at Driffield Terrace, 18 were tested for oxygen and strontium. The strontium analysis showed that 11 of them grew up on food that wasn’t grown locally. Two oxygen results were well outside the estimated range for Britain one of the persons spent his childhood in a cooler climate and the other in a warmer one.

Where possible the team tested four isotopes in the same individual. In combination, the oxygen and strontium isotopes indicated that just five of the men tested grew up in York. The others either came from elsewhere in the north of England, or as far as France, Germany or central southern Europe or the Mediterranean.

In total 68 individuals were tested for carbon and nitrogen. Five of them were markedly different from local populations. Two in particular had eaten diets with distinctly high carbon isotope ratios, indicating the consumption of C4 plants or the products of animals raised on them.

The only ‘C4 plant’ cultivated in Europe at the time was millet, but it was almost certainly not grown in Britain during this period, possibly because the climate was too wet. To have eaten enough of their distinctive diets to produce these unusual isotope results, the scientists conclude, these two individuals must have come from abroad.

This was one of the most exciting results for me, says Mldner. It’s the first time that consumers of C4 plant products have been reported for any archaeological period in Britain.

Crucially, a number of the individuals identified as incomers from the carbon and nitrogen results would not have been picked though strontium and oxygen analysis alone.

Compared to what is known so far from cemeteries across York, the ‘Headless Romans’ do seem to have much more exotic origins than groups with less unusual burial rites. But the study didn’t find any consistent link between their geographical origins and whether they were decapitated.

If anything, says Mldner, it’s the diversity of their backgrounds rather than any common origin that was the defining feature for this group of burials.

Gladiators, Soldiers, Executedor Religious Fanatics?

There are many theoriesabout ‘the identity’of theheadless Romans and their decapitators. In 2006, isotope analysis suggested that three of the men were from Northern Europe (including Britain), one from the Alps, one from the Mediterranean, and the final one from north Africa. The 80 could have been soldiers or even according to the 2006 Timewatch special ‘The Mystery of the Headless Romans’ men from Emperor Severus’ household, executed by Caracalla.

June this year, it was announced York’s headless Romans might have been Gladiators the subject of the Channel 4 documentary ‘Gladiators: Back from the Dead’ (which you can see here). Evidence cited for Driffield Terrace being the ‘worlds only well-preserved gladiator cemetery’, isthe discoveryof a ‘large, carnivore bite mark’ and a high incidence of substantial arm asymmetry. Further, some healed and unhealed weapon injuries and possible hammer blows to the head (a feature attested as a probable gladiatorial coup de grce at another gladiator cemetery at Ephesus in Turkey).

Surely, the 30 decapitated individuals died a violent death, but they couldalso have been criminals one of the skeletons was found with heavy lead leg-shackles, or even members of a religious cult.

The research is part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded project A Long Way From Home: Diaspora Communities in Roman Britain, whichearlier identified the ‘Upper Class’ (and early-christian) Ivory Bangle Lady buried at York as African. The research byDr Gundula Mldner, Chenery and Dr Hella Eckardt is published as The ‘Headless Romans’: multi-isotope investigations of an unusual burial ground from Roman Britain in the Journal of Archaeological Science (2010).

Newly-Discovered Roman Gladiator Skeleton goes on Display in York

A Roman skeleton discovered recently at ‘the world’s only well-preserved gladiator cemetery’ has gone on display in York. The skeleton, one of 80 found in the city over the past seven years, went on show at the Jorvik Viking Centre on Tuesday (June 22) and promises to be a hit with visitors.

The skeleton is one of the dig’s most important, bearing bite marks from a large carnivore. Experts have claimed it as proof gladiators were made to fight wild animals, such as bears and tigers, in the arena. The excavation itself has aroused huge interest across worldwide, and was recently the subject of a Channel 4 documentary on the grisly lives of gladiators in Roman Britain (read a review here).

John Walker, chief executive of York Archaeological Trust, tells York Press the gladiator’s display will allow locals the chance to see archaeology in action: “The skeletons have been the subject of global interest over the last week. We want to give people the opportunity to see for themselves some of the evidence that our archaeologists have worked with to develop their theories on the skeletons origins.”

York, Roman name Eboracum, was an important town close to the edge of the Roman Empire. Though the cemetery’s discovery suggests the existence of an amphitheatre like one beneath London’s Guildhall(watch a video on Roman London here), none such site has been unearthed in York.

‘World’s Only Well-Preserved Gladiator Cemetery’ Discovered in York

Above York

Around 80 gladiators have been discovered in what experts are calling the world’s only well-preserved gladiator cemetery, in the northern British town of York. The grisly find, made ahead of modern building works since 2004, includes the skeletons of men who had been killed with swords, axes and hammers – and one who had been bitten by a tiger.

Other telltale signs the 1st-3rd century AD men were gladiators are their arm asymmetry, testament to years of training with heavy weapons, and seemingly ritual decapitation. Though most losing gladiators were killed by a stab to the throat, the practice may have been due to some prevailing local custom. Burial items are sparse, but one 18-23-year-old man had been laid to rest with the remains of four horses and pig and cow bones.

Archaeologist Kurt Hunter-Mann of the York Archaeological Trust believes the dig’s evidence is pointing in one direction. “At present our lead theory is that many of these skeletons are those of Roman gladiators,” he says. “So far there are a number of pieces of evidence which point towards that interpretation or are consistent with it. But the research is continuing and we must therefore keep an open mind.

“It’s unlikely this individual was attacked by a tiger as he was walking home from the pub.”

“We could see that in quite a few cases the skulls had been chopped with some kind of heavy bladed weapon, a sword or in one or two cases an axe,” Hunter-Mann adds. “But they were buried with a degree of care. There are no mass pits. Most of them are buried individually.

“Other important pieces of evidence include a high incidence of substantial arm asymmetry – a feature mentioned in ancient Roman literature in connection with a gladiator; some healed and unhealed weapon injuries; possible hammer blows to the head – a feature attested as a probable gladiatorial coup de grace at another gladiator cemetery, Ephesus, in Turkey.”

Forensic anthropology expert Dr Michael Wysocki claims the most striking evidence is a series of bite marks suffered by one of the men. “The presence of bite marks is one of the strongest pieces of evidence suggesting an arena connection. It would seem highly unlikely this individual was attacked by a tiger as he was walking home from the pub in York 2,000 years ago.”

The find will fuel speculation as to the location of York’s Roman amphitheatre. Gladiator arenas have been discovered in several other major Roman cities in Britain such as London and Chester (watch a video on London’s Roman amphitheatre here). York, named Eboracum, was established by the Romans in 71AD, and boasts Roman baths and walls. Experts speculate it was once an upper-class Roman residence, and it is also home to the popular Jorvik Viking Centre. But Dr Wysocki believes this could be York’s biggest ancient coup to date: “These are internationally important discoveries. We dont have any other potential gladiator cemeteries with this level of preservation anywhere else in the world.”

The discovery will feature in forthcoming Channel 4 documentary Gladiators: Back from the Dead, which airs in the UK next Monday (14 June).

Brittania Superior ‘v’ Brittania Inferior: the Roman Roots of Britain’s North-South Divide

Recent news reports suggest that Britain’s north-south divide is still alive and as pronounced as ever. Whether you’re talking about heart disease, house prices or teenage pregnancy, statistics show that the invisible line that divides the north of Britain from the south is all too real.

Running from the Bristol channel up to somewhere just north of Lincoln (placing Wales and most of the West Midlands in the ‘north’ half of the UK), it’s an insurmountable line that separates the traditionally affluent south and the poorer north (although there are exceptions to the rule on both sides).

So how did the Brits arrive at such a divided society? Far greater brains than mine have pondered this question – and have come up with some insights. Recent history could point to the closure of industry and in particular coal mines in the north of England and in South Wales, but the line existed way before the ’70s and ’80s. Alan Baker and Mark Billinge published Geographies of England: the North-South Divide after noticing the similarities in wealth distribution of early 14th century Britain and late 20th century society. They looked into the rise of London in the Middle Ages, the urbanisation of agricultural Britain and the Industrial Revolution as roots of the disparity in wealth between the north-west and the south-east. Interesting stuff, but were there signs of a north-south divide even further back in time?

Severus Divides Britain in Two – Forever?

We know for sure that Britannia was first slashed in two by the Romans in 197 AD (or sometime after that). The emperor Septimius Severus appointed Londinium (London) as capital of the new province Britannia Superior, while Eboracum (York) was the capital of Britannia Inferior. The dividing line between the two provinces of Britannia hasn’t been clearly established, but it’s believed to have included Wales and East Anglia, with Britannia Inferior ending at Hadrian’s Wall, just south of the Scottish border.

While Britannia Inferior was associated with military forts, the south-east of the province was considered the ‘civil’ zone

Severus’s division of Britain into two provinces was a consequence of a power struggle between him and Clodius Albinus, governor of Britain. Severus had seized control of the empire in 193 AD after executing the emperor Didius Julianus in Rome, while Albinus had the support of three legions in Britannia (based at the Roman forts at York, Caerleon and Chester). Severus offered Albinus the title of Caesar, which he accepted, at least for the time being.

Three years later, in 196, Albinus and his armies invaded Gaul, officially challenging Severus’s rule of the empire. Crucially, it was Albinus’s power-base in Britannia that enabled him to mount this attack. He was an experienced and respected military commander, but Severus defeated him at the Battle of Lugdunum (near modern-day Lyon), before turning his attention to the source of the disturbance Britannia.

The Military North vs the Civilian South

British Museum - Painted walls from Lullingstone Roman Villa

The emperor realised that the governor of Britannia had too much power and could pose a potential threat to the stability of the empire. In a classic ‘divide-and-rule’ move, Severus installed two governors instead of one, each with his own half of the province.

Following this, tribes in northern Britannia continued to rebel against the Roman rulers and some reports by Cassius Dio say that much of the northern half of Britannia was overwhelmed with rebellions from local tribes. Severus spent time at Eboracum, the capital of the new northern province, on a campaign to put down the insurgent tribes. Meanwhile Londinium remained the centre for commerce and government of Britannia Superior.

Could it have been this split in 197 AD that had such a far-reaching effect on wealth distribution in Britain today? While Britannia Inferior was associated with military forts, the south-east of the province was considered the ‘civil’ zone and a far greater number of Roman villas have been found in the area of Britannia Superior. While the north fought to control local tribes, the south-east had an easier time and prospered. It could be that this set the blueprint for our North-South divide.

Evidence of ‘Upper Class’ Africans Living in Roman York

Skull of the Ivory Bangle lady found in a grave from Sycamore Terrace, York, by Gareth Buddo, copyright the Yorkshire Museum 2.jpg Skull of the Ivory Bangle lady found in a grave from Sycamore Terrace, York, by Gareth Buddo, copyright the Yorkshire MuseumUsing the latest techniques in forensic archaeology, the University of Reading has revealed a new image of multi-cultural Roman Britain. New research demonstrates that 4th century ADYork had individuals of North African descent moving in the highest social circles.

The research conducted by the University of Reading’s Department of Archaeology used modern forensic ancestry assessment and isotope (oxygen and strontium) analysis of Romano-British skeletal remains such as the Ivory Bangle Lady’, in conjunction with evidence from grave goods buried with her.

The ancestry assessment suggests a mixture of ‘black’ and ‘white’ ancestral traits, and the isotope signature indicates that she may have come from somewhere slightly warmer than the UK.

Taken together with the evidence of an unusual burial rite and grave goods, the evidence all points to the Ivory Bangle Lady’s high status in Roman York. It seems likely that she is of North African descent, and may have migrated to York from somewhere warmer, possibly the Mediterranean.

Dr Hella Eckardt, Senior Lecturer at the University of Reading, said: “Multi-cultural Britain is not just a phenomenon of more modern times. Analysis of the Ivory Bangle Lady’, and others like her, contradicts common popular assumptions about the makeup of Roman-British populations as well as the view that African immigrants in Roman Britain were of low status, male and likely to have been slaves.”

Ivory Bangle Lady copyright Aaron Watson University of Reading

The research helps paint a picture of a Roman York – or Eboracum as it was known – that was hugely diverse and which included among its population, men, women and children of high status from Romanised North Africa and elsewhere in the Mediterranean.

Eboracum was both an imperial fortress (it was the last base of the famous Ninth Legion) and civilian settlement, and ultimately became the capital of Britannia Inferior. York was also visited by two Emperors, the North-African-born Emperor Septimius Severus, and later Constantius I (both of whom died in York). All these factors provide potential circumstances for immigration to York, and for the foundation of a multicultural and diverse community.

Ivory and Jet bangles found in a grave from Sycamore Terrace, York, by Gareth Buddo, copyright the Yorkshire Museum“To date, we have had to rely on evidence of such foreigners in Roman Britain from inscriptions. However, by analysing the facial features of the Ivory Bangle Lady and measuring her skull compared to reference populations, analysing the chemical signature of the food and drink she consumed, as well as evaluating the evidence from the burial site, we are now able to establish a clear profile of her ancestry and social status,” adds Dr Eckardt.

The Ivory Bangle Lady was a high status young woman who was buried in Sycamore Terrace, York. Dated to the second half of the fourth century, her grave contains jet and elephant ivory bracelets, earrings, pendants, beads, a blue glass jug and a glass mirror. The most famous object from this burial is a rectangular openwork mount of bone, possibly from an unrecorded wooden casket, which reads “Hail, sister, may you live in God”, signaling possible Christian beliefs.

The research was funded by the AHRCand conducted by the University of Reading’s Department of Archaeology, working with the Yorkshire Museum‘s collections. The museum will open in August 2010 following a major 2 million refurbishment. The skeleton and grave goods will be part of the museum’s exhibition entitled Roman York: Meet the People of the Empire, which aims to show Roman York in a new, cosmopolitan light, with inhabitants from Africa, Spain, France and every corner of the vast Roman Empire.

The Vale of York Hoard – Viking Treasure purchased by the British Museum

The vessel being unpacked.An important Viking hoard of jewels and coins unearthed in England by a father-and-son team of treasure hunters in 2007 has been acquired by the British Museum and the Yorkshire Museum in York. It will go on display next month. The Vale of York hoard – previously known as the Harrogate hoard – is valued at 1.1 million pounds ($1.8 million) and is at least 1,000 years old. It includes objects from Afghanistan, Ireland, Russia and Scandinavia, underlining the global spread of cultural contacts during medieval times.

The York Museums Trust in York, northern England, and the British Museum in London bought the treasure, which they say is the most important find of its kind in Britain for 160 years, for 1,082,800.

The major Viking hoard was discovered in the Harrogate area in January 2007 by metal-detectorists David and Andrew Whelan. The father and son detecting team promptly reported the hoard to their local Finds Liaison Officer, and displayed exemplary behaviour in not unpacking all the objects from the bowl, but keeping the find intact. Under the Treasure Act 1996 all finders of gold and silver objects, and groups of coins from the same finds, over 300 years old, have a legal obligation to report such items. As a possible Treasure find, it was then transferred to the British Museum where conservators have carefully excavated each find to avoid damaging the individual objects or losing important contextual information.

Contents of the Harrogate Hoard vesselIt is the largest and most important Viking hoard found in Britain since that discovered at Cuerdale, Lancashire, in 1840 which contained more than 8,000 objects. Mr Fell, Coroner, commented: “Treasure cases are always interesting, but this is one of the most exciting cases that I have ever had to rule on. Im delighted that such an important Viking hoard has been discovered in North Yorkshire. We are extremely proud of our Viking heritage in this area.”

For David Whelan and his son Andrew, who made the discovery, it was a treasure hunter’s dream come true. “Being keen metal detectorists, we always dreamt of finding a hoard, but to find one from such a fantastic period of history is just unbelievable,” father and son said in a statement. “The contents of the hoard we found went far beyond our wildest dreams and hopefully people will love seeing the objects on display in York and London for many, many years to come.” They will divide the proceeds from the sale with the owner of the land where it was found.

Like other Viking hoards of the period, the Vale of York hoard contains a mixture of different precious metal objects, including coins, complete ornaments, ingots (bars) and chopped-up fragments known as hack-silver. The hoard also shows the diversity of cultural contacts in the medieval world, with objects coming from as far apart as Afghanistan in the East and Ireland in the West, as well as Russia, Scandinavia and continental Europe.

X Ray of the Harrogate HoardThe most spectacular single object is a gilt silver vessel, made in what is now France in the first half of the ninth century. It was probably intended for use in church services, and was believed to have been looted by Vikings from a monastery or given to them as a tribute. Most of the smaller objects were hidden inside this vessel, which was itself protected by some form of lead container. As a result, the hoard was extremely well-preserved.

Other star objects include a rare gold arm-ring, and over 600 coins, including several new or rare types. These provide valuable new information about the history of England in the early tenth century, as well as Yorkshires wider cultural contacts in the period. For instance, one of the hoard’s coins teaches us that worshippers of Thor were being encouraged to Christianise their allegiance by switching the Scandanavian god for Peter, as it features St Peter but also the hammer of Thor. Interestingly, the hoard contains coins relating to Islam and to the pre-Christian religion of the Vikings, as well as to Christianity.

Conservation work has recently started on the hoard to restore it to its former glory. More information on the hoard has come to light through this process. The vessel which contained most of the hoard can now be seen to be decorated with niello (a black metal inlay), as well as extensive gilding. New details are also visible in the decoration of some of the silver jewellery fragments, and in the designs and inscriptions of the coins.

The hoard was probably buried for safety by a wealthy Viking leader during the unrest that followed the conquest of the Viking kingdom of Northumbria in AD 927 by the Anglo-Saxon king Athelstan. The Viking army conquered Northumbria in 869 and it remained under Viking control for nearly 60 years.

This major Viking hoard, an important and exciting find, is joint-owned and will be displayed equally between the two partners. Highlights of the hoard will go on display at the Yorkshire Museum in York from September 17 to November 1 before moving to the British Museum.