London: Slaughtered in the arena by tigers, or killed by a hammer blow from a fellow fighter, gladiators died to entertain bloodthirsty crowds.
Such a savage spectacle has mostly been associated with ancient Rome, but historians believe they have uncovered an entire cemetery of gladiators in the North of England.
The 2,000-year-old remains of almost 80 young men, mutilated by horrific injuries, were found by archaeologists as they excavated a residential area of York. At first the find was thought to be victims of a mass execution.
But archaeologists and forensic scientists believe the men's skeletons — many of which indicate they were decapitated, and one shows an apparent tiger bite — indicate they were gladiators who met a bloody end.
Some skeletons showed healed injuries from weapons, and one showed a large bite mark which matched the size of a lion or tiger's incisor tooth.
All the individuals were described as robust and tall. Their skeletons showed signs they were heavily muscled.
Historians believe the excavation is the world's only well-preserved gladiator cemetery. Romans brought gladiator fighting to Britain almost 2,000 years ago.
