Remains of a Roman slave with a two-inch iron nail driven through his heel bone have been found in Cambridgeshire — and are the ‘world’s best example of crucifixion’ and the first evidence of such from the UK.
The skeleton was discovered by archaeologists in an excavation of Fenstanton village back in 2017. They have now completed the analysis.
Radiocarbon dating has placed the finds between 130–337 AD.
The skeleton of the 5’7” man — believed to have been 25–35 at the time of his death — was found alongside traces of a timber structure that he was buried with.
However, rather than a cross the team thinks that it may have been an alternative type of board known as a “bier” on which the corpse would have been laid after death.
The fact that no other nails were found in the man’s body suggests that he was tied to a separate wooden structure — possible another board — during his ordeal.
Archaeologists believe that the nail running down his heel did not support his weight. It was there to “stop him wriggling”.
Remains of a Roman slave (pictured) with a two-inch iron nail driven through his heel bone have been found in Cambridgeshire — and are the ‘world’s best example of crucifixion’
In 2017, archaeologists discovered the remains of the slave’s skeleton in an excavation near Fenstanton. Now they have completed their investigation. Pictured: the slave’s heel bone — or ‘calcaneum’ — showing where the iron nail was driven through it
The skeleton of the man — believed to have been 25–35 at the time of his death — was found with a timber structure, possibly a ‘bier’ on which his corpse was placed. Pictured: An archaeologist digs the grave of the crucified man in Fenstanton (Cambridge).
‘It’s essentially the first time that we’ve found physical evidence for this practice of crucifixion during an archaeological excavation,’ said dig leader David Ingham of Albion Archaeology.
“You can’t find that.” Although we have evidence written, almost all physical evidence is lost.
The remains of the slave with a nail through his heel, he said, surpasses the previous example of same injury, which was found in Israel back in 1968.
The fact that this body was both reburied, and therefore not intact, is a departure from the Fenstanton finding.
While crucifixion is often associated with Christianity in some circles, archaeologists believe that this incident did not involve any religion.
Crucifixion — which kills by means of a combination of asphyxiation and severe exhaustion — was the primary form of capital punishment in the Roman empire until it was banned under the reign of Constantine the Great (306–337 AD).
It was Cambridge University archaeologist Corinne Duhig whose analysis confirmed that the Fenstanton man’s death must have been caused by crucifixion.
The team concluded that the victim was a slave, as evidenced by the man’s limping and the signs of immobilisation.
Mr Ingham added that the crucifixion may have been a ‘local variation on a theme’, as compared to the ‘textbook’ example epitomised by that of Jesus in the Bible.
According to local legend, the man was probably from the nearby area and was crucified at a roadside about half a mile away from the graveyard in which he was buried.
David Ingham from Albion Archaeology stated that it was essentially the first instance of physical evidence for the practice. Pictured: the slave’s heel bone — or ‘calcaneum’ — showing where the iron nail was driven through it
“You don’t just find it.” We have written evidence but we almost never find physical evidence,’ Mr Ingham added. Pictured: An archaeologist digs out the grave of a crucified man in Fenstanton (Cambridge).
The team discovered other artifacts as well, including an enamelled copper-alloy brooch that resembled a horse and rider (pictured). Similar to an earlier find made at Hockwold cum Wilton (Norfolk), this piece of jewelry is linked to the Roman-era Cult that existed in East Anglia. Somerset, and Wiltshire.
As part of an excavation project that found 48 remains in five Fenstanton cemeteries, six more graves were also unearthed at the same location.
The team discovered artifacts such as ceramics and an enamelled copper-alloy brooch that resembled a horse-and rider, in addition to these burials.
This piece of jewellery is similar to a previous find at Hockwold cum Wilton in Norfolk that has been linked to a Roman-era cult known to have existed in East Anglia, Somerset and Wiltshire.
According to team members, it is believed that the man died on the roadside about half a block from the graveyard in which his body was buried. Pictured is pottery found from the digs
Six other graves were unearthed in the same burial site as part of the excavation project, which unearthed a total of 48 remains from across five cemeteries in Fenstanton from 2017–18