But unknown until now was where the match took place: Colchester, England. Archaeologists say it is the only depiction of a real gladiator match that took place in Roman Britain.

The Hawkedon Helmet is the only confirmed piece of gladiatorial armour from Roman Britain, possibly plundered from Colchester - known then as Camulodunum - during Boudica's rebellion of AD60.

Researchers in Ireland and the United Kingdom have identified the first physical evidence of ancient Roman human-animal gladiatorial combat in Europe: a human skeleton with bite marks on its ...