39 skulls found within the ancient part London 25 years ago are now thought to be those of gladiators killed whilst entertaining Roman audiences.
The 39 skulls were found in 1988 beneath the site of the Guildhall within the City of London, central London. The boundaries of the City of London, also known as the Square Mile and is the capital's financial centre, roughly coincide with the Roman city of Londinium, which was bounded by a wall, parts of which remain today. The Guildhall is the City's ceremonial and administrative centre.
The skulls were believed to have originated from human remains washed out of burial sites by the Walbrook, one of the area’s lost rivers.
But now after 25 years in storage, the remains have been re-examined by an historian from the Museum of London, who believes they are the first evidence of gladiators in London.
Studies have revealed that most of the skulls show signs of injury before death - despite them dying during peace time.
Rebecca Redfern, of the museum's Centre for Human Bioarchaeology, now believes that the skulls are either the result of sacrificial headhunting, or the remains of gladiators, killed for sport.
Mystery of 39 skulls found at London Wall is solved after 25 years: Decapitated heads were 'gladiators' who fought in the City
Haul of 39 skulls, discovered beneath the site of Guildhall in City of London
They were discovered in 1988 but have just been re-examined
It is now believed they are first evidence of gladiators in ancient London
By Amanda Williams
15 January 2014
Daily Mail
Skulls discovered within the boundaries of ancient London a quarter of a century ago are now believed to be those of gladiators, brutally killed for the amusement of Roman audiences.
The haul of 39 skulls, discovered beneath the site of the Guildhall in the City of London, were discovered in 1988 and were believed to have originated from human remains washed out of burial sites by the Walbrook, one of the area’s lost rivers.
But now after 25 years in storage, the remains have been re-examined by an historian from the Museum of London, who believes they are the first evidence of gladiators in London.
Skulls discovered within the boundaries of ancient London a quarter of a century ago are now believed to be those belonging to gladiators, brutally killed for the amusement of Roman audiences. This skull shows sharp force injuries
The Guildhall in the City of London, central London
Studies have revealed that most of the skulls show signs of injury before death - despite them dying during peace time.
Rebecca Redfern, of the museum's Centre for Human Bioarchaeology, now believes that the skulls are either the result of sacrificial headhunting, or the remains of gladiators, killed for sport.
Some of the heads had been decapitated and one of the haul had part of its jawbone sliced off - almost all had been the victims of violence - The Independent reports.
'The level of violence here exceeds the level needed to kill someone', Dr Redfern said, adding that they showed 'lethal, multiple blows to the head' alongside healed injuries consistent with a brutal life.
The full findings of her research will be published this week in the Journal of Archaeological Science.
The skulls were discovered in a pit beneath what is now a Waterstones bookshop - at 52 - 63 London Wall - which was excavated in 1988.
The area was an industrial one in Roman times known as the Upper Walbrook Valley.
The jawline of adult male with sharp force weapon injury. The studies reveal the skulls had almost certainly all been victims of violence
An adult male jaw with marks of dog gnawing, examined by the team. The bones are believed to hold the first evidence of Roman gladiators in London
The gladiator games re-enactment took place in July 2011 the City of London Guildhall Courtyard. The Gladiators were part of the Britannia re-enactment society and fought to the ‘death’ in front of the baying crowd.
Although historians have known about the existence of an ampitheatre at the site for many years, Dr Redfern said it was the first time physical evidence of gladiators had been found in London.
She said: 'It’s utterly, utterly amazing. We don’t have evidence for this type of thing in Roman London.
She added: 'There is no primary source evidence for gladiators in London... There is a gladiator tombstone, but we think it was brought to Britain (from Europe no earlier than the 17th century).
The Times reports that the remains were thrown into the pits between 120 and 160 AD - which was peace time in Roman Britain.
Dr Redfern said the bones were not supposed to have been in the pits at all as this was within the walls of the City - where corpses were not supposed to have been buried.
In August construction workers in London made an 'unexpected and fascinating discovery' during work on the city's billion pound Crossrail project.
Around 20 Roman skulls were unearthed by tunnellers working beneath Liverpool Street Station, where the historic River Walbrook flows.
A reconstruction drawing of Londinium. The skulls were discovered in a pit beneath what is now a Waterstones bookshop - at 52 - 63 London Wall - which was excavated in 1988
The same area today. The boundaries of the modern City of London, or the Square Mile, roughly coincide with those of Londinium. Today, however, the City is just one small part of central London
Another haul of skulls and pottery was recently found below the site of the historic Bedlam burial ground. Bedlam hospital was a psychiatric asylum and patients who died while at the hospital were buried in a cemetery first established in the 16th century
Archaeologists believe the skulls, pictured, may have washed downstream along the River Walbrook. They were found six metres under the ground below what is thought to have been a 16th century burial ground for patients of the Bedlam hospital
Working under the direction of Crossrail's archaeologists, the construction workers carefully removed the human skulls and Roman pottery.
They were found buried in clusters in the sediment of the historic tributary.
For safety reasons the archaeologists had to leave the work to the tunnellers as the skulls were buried as deep as six metres below ground.
The cross-London scheme has already led to a number of exciting discoveries, including around 4,000 skeletons found buried in the Eldon Street area.
These skeletons will be carefully removed during major archaeological excavations this year.
The discovery of the skulls and pottery was made below the site of the historic Bedlam burial ground.
Bedlam hospital was a psychiatric asylum and patients who died while at the hospital were buried in a cemetery first established in the 16th century.
Historically, Roman skulls have been found along the Thames tributary Walbrook during various excavations in the region.
This led to speculation the skulls found were heads decapitated by Queen Boudicca's army during the rebellion against Roman occupation in the 1st century AD.
LONDON'S LOST RIVERS: THE RIVER WALBROOK
The River Walbrook formed from tributaries coming from Shoreditch, Barbican and merging in the Finsbury Circus area of Central London.
It flows through the middle of the City of London beneath the Bank of England and joins the Thames between Southwark and Cannon Street Bridges.
It is believed to be named after a brook that ran through the London Wall, built by the Romans around London to protect the city.
Romans built the Temple of Mithras, which worshipped the ancient religion of Mithraism, on the banks of the Walbrook in the 3rd century AD.This temple was found during construction work in the 1950's.
Following the invasion of the Anglo-Saxons in the 6th century, Britons were forced to live on the east bank of the Walbrook, while the Saxons lived on the west.
The Walbrook began being covered by buildings in 1440 and it now runs entirely underground, running parallel to a street called Walbrook.
Source: London's Lost Rivers
Read more: Mystery of 39 skulls found at London Wall is solved after 25 years: Decapitated heads were 'gladiators' who fought in the City | Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
The 39 skulls were found in 1988 beneath the site of the Guildhall within the City of London, central London. The boundaries of the City of London, also known as the Square Mile and is the capital's financial centre, roughly coincide with the Roman city of Londinium, which was bounded by a wall, parts of which remain today. The Guildhall is the City's ceremonial and administrative centre.
The skulls were believed to have originated from human remains washed out of burial sites by the Walbrook, one of the area’s lost rivers.
But now after 25 years in storage, the remains have been re-examined by an historian from the Museum of London, who believes they are the first evidence of gladiators in London.
Studies have revealed that most of the skulls show signs of injury before death - despite them dying during peace time.
Rebecca Redfern, of the museum's Centre for Human Bioarchaeology, now believes that the skulls are either the result of sacrificial headhunting, or the remains of gladiators, killed for sport.
Mystery of 39 skulls found at London Wall is solved after 25 years: Decapitated heads were 'gladiators' who fought in the City
Haul of 39 skulls, discovered beneath the site of Guildhall in City of London
They were discovered in 1988 but have just been re-examined
It is now believed they are first evidence of gladiators in ancient London
By Amanda Williams
15 January 2014
Daily Mail
Skulls discovered within the boundaries of ancient London a quarter of a century ago are now believed to be those of gladiators, brutally killed for the amusement of Roman audiences.
The haul of 39 skulls, discovered beneath the site of the Guildhall in the City of London, were discovered in 1988 and were believed to have originated from human remains washed out of burial sites by the Walbrook, one of the area’s lost rivers.
But now after 25 years in storage, the remains have been re-examined by an historian from the Museum of London, who believes they are the first evidence of gladiators in London.
Skulls discovered within the boundaries of ancient London a quarter of a century ago are now believed to be those belonging to gladiators, brutally killed for the amusement of Roman audiences. This skull shows sharp force injuries
The Guildhall in the City of London, central London
Studies have revealed that most of the skulls show signs of injury before death - despite them dying during peace time.
Rebecca Redfern, of the museum's Centre for Human Bioarchaeology, now believes that the skulls are either the result of sacrificial headhunting, or the remains of gladiators, killed for sport.
Some of the heads had been decapitated and one of the haul had part of its jawbone sliced off - almost all had been the victims of violence - The Independent reports.
'The level of violence here exceeds the level needed to kill someone', Dr Redfern said, adding that they showed 'lethal, multiple blows to the head' alongside healed injuries consistent with a brutal life.
The full findings of her research will be published this week in the Journal of Archaeological Science.
The skulls were discovered in a pit beneath what is now a Waterstones bookshop - at 52 - 63 London Wall - which was excavated in 1988.
The area was an industrial one in Roman times known as the Upper Walbrook Valley.
The jawline of adult male with sharp force weapon injury. The studies reveal the skulls had almost certainly all been victims of violence
An adult male jaw with marks of dog gnawing, examined by the team. The bones are believed to hold the first evidence of Roman gladiators in London
The gladiator games re-enactment took place in July 2011 the City of London Guildhall Courtyard. The Gladiators were part of the Britannia re-enactment society and fought to the ‘death’ in front of the baying crowd.
Although historians have known about the existence of an ampitheatre at the site for many years, Dr Redfern said it was the first time physical evidence of gladiators had been found in London.
She said: 'It’s utterly, utterly amazing. We don’t have evidence for this type of thing in Roman London.
She added: 'There is no primary source evidence for gladiators in London... There is a gladiator tombstone, but we think it was brought to Britain (from Europe no earlier than the 17th century).
The Times reports that the remains were thrown into the pits between 120 and 160 AD - which was peace time in Roman Britain.
Dr Redfern said the bones were not supposed to have been in the pits at all as this was within the walls of the City - where corpses were not supposed to have been buried.
In August construction workers in London made an 'unexpected and fascinating discovery' during work on the city's billion pound Crossrail project.
Around 20 Roman skulls were unearthed by tunnellers working beneath Liverpool Street Station, where the historic River Walbrook flows.
A reconstruction drawing of Londinium. The skulls were discovered in a pit beneath what is now a Waterstones bookshop - at 52 - 63 London Wall - which was excavated in 1988
The same area today. The boundaries of the modern City of London, or the Square Mile, roughly coincide with those of Londinium. Today, however, the City is just one small part of central London
Another haul of skulls and pottery was recently found below the site of the historic Bedlam burial ground. Bedlam hospital was a psychiatric asylum and patients who died while at the hospital were buried in a cemetery first established in the 16th century
Archaeologists believe the skulls, pictured, may have washed downstream along the River Walbrook. They were found six metres under the ground below what is thought to have been a 16th century burial ground for patients of the Bedlam hospital
Working under the direction of Crossrail's archaeologists, the construction workers carefully removed the human skulls and Roman pottery.
They were found buried in clusters in the sediment of the historic tributary.
For safety reasons the archaeologists had to leave the work to the tunnellers as the skulls were buried as deep as six metres below ground.
The cross-London scheme has already led to a number of exciting discoveries, including around 4,000 skeletons found buried in the Eldon Street area.
These skeletons will be carefully removed during major archaeological excavations this year.
The discovery of the skulls and pottery was made below the site of the historic Bedlam burial ground.
Bedlam hospital was a psychiatric asylum and patients who died while at the hospital were buried in a cemetery first established in the 16th century.
Historically, Roman skulls have been found along the Thames tributary Walbrook during various excavations in the region.
This led to speculation the skulls found were heads decapitated by Queen Boudicca's army during the rebellion against Roman occupation in the 1st century AD.
LONDON'S LOST RIVERS: THE RIVER WALBROOK
The River Walbrook formed from tributaries coming from Shoreditch, Barbican and merging in the Finsbury Circus area of Central London.
It flows through the middle of the City of London beneath the Bank of England and joins the Thames between Southwark and Cannon Street Bridges.
It is believed to be named after a brook that ran through the London Wall, built by the Romans around London to protect the city.
Romans built the Temple of Mithras, which worshipped the ancient religion of Mithraism, on the banks of the Walbrook in the 3rd century AD.This temple was found during construction work in the 1950's.
Following the invasion of the Anglo-Saxons in the 6th century, Britons were forced to live on the east bank of the Walbrook, while the Saxons lived on the west.
The Walbrook began being covered by buildings in 1440 and it now runs entirely underground, running parallel to a street called Walbrook.
Source: London's Lost Rivers
Read more: Mystery of 39 skulls found at London Wall is solved after 25 years: Decapitated heads were 'gladiators' who fought in the City | Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
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