In 2004-5, archaeologists from York Archaeological Trust uncovered part of a large Roman cemetery in York. These skeletons were very unusual. Almost all of the skeletons were male and most were adults. Usually Roman cemeteries have men, women, boys and girls. The most interesting thing about the skeletons was that many of them had their heads chopped off! This left the archaeologists wondering who these headless Romans could be...

Who were the headless Romans?

After looking at the skeletons, archaeologists think that the men buried at the cemetery were gladiators, solders, criminals or people in a religious ceremony.

Gladiators

In Roman times, gladiators entertained large audiences by fighting against each other and sometimes against wild animals.
One of the skeletons had a large bite mark that could have come from a lion, tiger or bear. Some archaeologists think that this man was a gladiator, bitten in a fight before he died.

Criminals

Criminals in Roman times suffered a variety of punishments depending on their  crime. Some were sold as slaves others made to fight as gladiators or even put to death.
One of the skeletons was buried with large iron rings forged around his ankles which shows he may have been a criminal kept as a prisoner. These would be painful to wear and would have stopped him walking very far.

Soldiers

Roman soldiers were well armed and trained men. They travelled all over the world to keep control of the empire and conquer new lands.

Many of the skeletons had skull injuries and broken ribs or had lost teeth. This means that the men suffered many injuries which could have been caused by fighting. Archaeologists have also found that these men came from all over the Roman Empire.

People in a religious ceremony

Throughout history people have buried their dead in different ways. The way that people were buried often shows the beliefs that they held about the afterlife.
Some archaeologists think that the skeletonss heads have been cut off because the people burying them thought that it would stop them from coming back from the dead. The people of York didn't want to have too many ghosts walking around town.

You decide...

Archaeologists still aren't sure who the headless Romans are, but will keep studying the evidence. What do you think?

To find out more please go to www.headlessromans.com.