The Economic Times

In 2016, a buried bear skull revealed a forgotten chapter of gladiator history dating back to the Roman era

A bear skull found near Viminacium amphitheater reveals its use in Roman gladiator fights. The bear suffered a frontal bone fracture and showed cage-biting marks on its teeth. This evidence indicates the animal participated in multiple spectacles and likely died from infection. The discovery provides the first osteological proof of brown bears in Roman spectacles. It offers insight into ancient human-wild animal interactions and the empire's entertainment.