Gladiators: A Cemetery of Secrets

During 2004-5 York Archaeological Trust excavated 80 burials at Driffield Terrace York. This site was part of a large cemetery on the outskirts of the Roman town of Eboracum, across the river from the legionary fortress. The burials displayed evidence that so intrigued the archaeologists that further investigation was needed. This search for answers. which is on going, has suggested that these people could have been a group of gladiators, who lived and fought in York during the Roman occupation.
Six skeletons were highlighted in the recent C4 programme 'Gladiators: Back from the dead', based on information provided by the forensic archaeologist Dr Michael Wysocki (from the University of Central Lancashire). Further analysis is beginning to tell us more about the lives and deaths of these individuals. Meanwhile arguments continue as to whether these men were, in fact, a group of specialist fighters who were both revered (as superstars) and reviled (as associated with death). Or were they people who had been executed but given a decent burial. How about soldiers who had died in battle. Or was this evidence of a group of people who had unusual views on religion or burial practises.
Explore the evidence...and you decide...
Copyright: October Films