Bear remains from Roman spectacles have given archaeologists the first physical evidence of the brutal use of wild animals in ancient arenas, revealing the grim realities of captivity and combat.
The discovery centers on a fragmented skull of a six-year-old male bear, unearthed in 2016 at the amphitheater of Viminacium, a Roman city in present-day Serbia.
A multidisciplinary team studied the remains with anthropology, microscopic analysis, radiology, and ancient DNA sequencing. Their findings, recently published in Antiquity, offer a rare glimpse into the suffering endured by animals forced into Roman public entertainment.
Captivity leaves traces on the teeth
Researchers reported excessive and abnormal wear on the teeth, a pattern consistent with repeatedly grinding and chewing on the bars of a cage. Such behavior is recognized as a response to stress and prolonged captivity. In addition, the skull showed signs of periodontal disease, another indicator of poor conditions and a restricted diet.
Experts say the condition of the teeth proves this was not an animal brought in for a single fight. Instead, it lived in captivity for an extended period and appeared in multiple spectacles. After each fight, it was returned to its enclosure, where it gnawed anxiously on the cage until it was called back into the arena.
Skull reveals violent encounters
Radiological and microscopic analysis revealed a traumatic blow to the forehead. The wound was consistent with a strike from a weapon, most likely inflicted by a venator — the gladiator trained to fight wild beasts in Roman games.
The fracture showed partial healing, which means the bear survived the encounter. However, the recovery was cut short. Researchers found the wound was later complicated by a severe infection that ultimately caused the animal’s death.
Genetic study confirms local origin
Ancient DNA extracted from the bone provided another important clue. When compared with modern bear populations, the results confirmed the animal’s Balkan origin. This suggests that bears were captured locally and supplied to Viminacium, capital of the Roman province of Moesia Superior.
The finding indicates that organizers relied on nearby wildlife rather than on expensive and risky long-distance imports.
Proof of what texts long described
Roman writers vividly described the bloody spectacles staged in amphitheaters across the Empire. Gladiators, criminals, and wild animals were forced to fight or die before the crowds. Brown bears often appeared in these accounts, yet no archaeological evidence had ever confirmed their role until now.
The Viminacium skull offers the first osteological proof that the species was part of the spectacle economy. Researchers say the discovery goes beyond a single case. It highlights the brutality of Roman entertainment and provides tangible evidence of the complex — and often violent — ties between humans and wild animals in the ancient world.
