Fossil skull provides first direct evidence that bears fought in Roman amphitheaters

For citizens of the ancient Roman Empire, a trip to the amphitheater meant a thrilling day of entertainment. However, for many of the gladiators and animals involved, it was a fight for survival. A new study published in Antiquity provides the first direct evidence that brown bears were used in the gladiatorial arena, giving us a grim look at the brutal treatment they endured.

source https://phys.org/news/2025-09-fossil-skull-evidence-fought-roman.html