Bite marks on a Roman-era skeleton found in York are the first physical evidence gladiators fought animals, experts have said.

专家称，在约克发现的一具罗马时期的骨骼上的咬痕，是角斗士曾与动物搏斗的首个实物证据。

Teeth imprints from a large cat were found on the pelvis of a man buried in a cemetery believed to contain the remains of gladiators.

在这具被埋葬于一处被认为埋有角斗士遗骸的墓地中的男子骨盆上，发现了大型猫科动物的齿痕。

Images of gladiators being mauled by lions have been featured on mosaics and pottery, but this is the first time skeletal evidence of the fighting has been found.

马赛克画作和陶器上曾描绘过角斗士被狮子撕咬的场景， 但此次是首次发现此类搏斗的骨骼证据。

Academics said the bones showed distinct lesions and were identified as coming from a large cat, probably a lion, after being compared with modern zoological teeth marks.

学者们表示，这些骨骼显示出明显的损伤痕迹，且在将其与现代动物牙齿痕迹进行比对后， 确定这些痕迹来自大型猫科动物，很可能是狮子留下的。

The man is estimated to have been aged between 26 and 36 years old when he died and appears to have lived during the 3rd century AD, when York was known as Eboracum and was a town and military base in the Roman province of Britannia.

据估计，这名男子去世时年龄在26至36岁之间，他似乎生活在公元3世纪， 当时约克被称为埃博拉库姆，是罗马不列颠尼亚行省的一个城镇和军事基地。

Professor Becky Gowland, from Durham University's Department of Archaeology, said: "This is an exciting new analysis and the first direct evidence of human-animal spectacle in Roman Britain and beyond.

杜伦大学考古系的贝基·高兰教授表示： “这是一项令人兴奋的新分析，也是罗马不列颠尼亚及其以外地区人兽表演的首个直接证据。”

"It also raises important questions about the importance and transport of exotic animals across the Roman Empire."

“这也引发了关于珍稀动物在罗马帝国境内的重要性及其运输问题的重大思考。”

The researchers want to find out how lions came to be kept in Britain and the lives of gladiators on the edge of the Roman Empire.

研究人员希望弄清楚狮子是如何被带到英国的，以及罗马帝国边疆地区角斗士的生活状况。

'First direct, physical evidence'

“首个直接、确凿的实物证据”

The study, published in the journal PLOS One, was led by Tim Thompson, professor of anthropology and vice president for students and learning at Maynooth University, Ireland, who said: "For years, our understanding of Roman gladiatorial combat and animal spectacles has relied heavily on historical texts and artistic depictions.

这项研究发表在《公共科学图书馆·综合》期刊上，由爱尔兰梅努斯大学人类学教授兼学生与学习事务副校长蒂姆·汤普森领导。 他表示：“多年来， 我们对罗马角斗士搏斗和动物表演的了解主要依赖于历史文献和艺术描绘。

"This discovery provides the first direct, physical evidence that such events took place in this period, reshaping our perception of Roman entertainment culture in the region."

“这一发现提供了首个直接、确凿的实物证据，证明此类活动在这一时期确实存在， 从而重塑了我们对该地区罗马娱乐文化的认知。”