• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Anthropology

Archaeologists uncover 1,800-year-old Roman soldier burial with dagger at ancient Spanish fortress

by Dario Radley
February 13, 2025

Archaeologists excavating an ancient fortress in Almendralejo, Spain, have found a startling burial that might belong to a Roman soldier who died about 1,800 years ago. They made this find during an archaeological survey conducted before the construction of a photovoltaic solar park, which revealed not just an amazing old settlement but also the body of a man buried in a weird and unsettling manner.

Archaeologists uncover 1,800-year-old Roman soldier burial with dagger at ancient Spanish fortress
Archaeologists uncover 1,800-year-old Roman soldier burial with dagger at ancient Spanish fortress. Credit: ACCIONA

The remains were found in a shallow grave near one of the fortress’s defensive ditches. The individual, estimated to have been between 25 and 35 years old, was buried face down with a Roman dagger, or pugio, deliberately placed on his back. Even more puzzling were the remains of his feet, which appeared as though they had been severed. Experts suggest this type of burial hints at punishment; he may have been executed for crimes like desertion or perhaps even theft.

The dagger itself is in excellent condition and still in its sheath, dating back to about the late first century BCE. Although no precise information about how this person died exists, the pugio indicates a military connection. “The deliberate placement of the pugio in the burial is a way of signaling the social position of the buried and his belonging to the army,” explains excavation director César M. Pérez, from the archaeological company Tera S.L., in an interview with El Pais.

The dating of the burial suggests it occurred in either the second or third century CE, during which the sole Roman legion present in Hispania was the Legio VII Gemina, established in 74 CE. Unlike other legions that engaged frequently in warfare, the primary role of the Legio VII Gemina involved escorting duties and maintaining regional security. This raises intriguing questions regarding why this soldier’s burial seems both unusual and potentially dishonorable.

Archaeologists uncover 1,800-year-old Roman soldier burial with dagger at ancient Spanish fortress
An aerial view of the fortress. Credit: ACCIONA

Additionally, the removal of his feet adds a further layer of complexity to this case. Some archaeologists hypothesize that it may represent a punishment for fleeing—a fate not uncommon among deserters within the Roman military. Deserters faced severe penalties according to Roman military law; one such penalty was fustuarium—an execution method involving fellow soldiers clubbing the individual to death. Whether this man suffered such a fate remains unknown.

RelatedStories

2,000-year-old wall paintings revealed from ‘Beverly Hills of Roman London’ Credit: MOLA

2,000-year-old wall paintings unearthed in ‘Beverly Hills of Roman London’

June 20, 2025
Roman-era settlement and mysterious burial unearthed in Delbrück-Bentfeld

Roman-era settlement and mysterious burial unearthed in Delbrück-Bentfeld

June 14, 2025

To gain deeper insights into his origins, researchers are extracting DNA from one of his teeth with hopes of discovering his ancestry and potentially associating him with a specific cultural background. Should his burial customs align more closely with traditions outside those typical of the Roman military, it might suggest he originated from elsewhere other than Hispania or that his death was part of a localized ritualistic practice.

Archaeologists uncover 1,800-year-old Roman soldier burial with dagger at ancient Spanish fortress
The Roman dagger was still completely intact. Credit: ACCIONA

This burial is only one component of a much broader and culturally significant archaeological discovery. The site, known as Cortijo Lobato, dates back nearly 5,000 years to the Copper Age period. Strategically situated atop a hilltop, this fortress features three concentric stone walls alongside 25 bastions and three defensive ditches, some of which measure up to 13 feet (4 meters) wide and reach depths of 6 feet (2 meters).

Archaeologists suggest that the fortress was initially constructed to safeguard agricultural produce during a time of severe drought, later being abandoned around 2450 BCE. For nearly three millennia, it remained mostly unoccupied until the onset of Roman rule in the second or third century CE.

Archaeologists uncover 1,800-year-old Roman soldier burial with dagger at ancient Spanish fortress
Copper Age arrowheads found in the excavations. Credit: ACCIONA

Inside the fortress, researchers discovered a trove of artifacts, including arrowheads, stone idols, axes, grinding tools, plates, bowls, and loom components. The identification of a water reservoir along with remnants of burnt wooden doors points toward the likelihood that attackers eventually besieged and destroyed the stronghold. The abundance of arrowheads adds further evidence to this hypothesis.

DNA analysis and further excavation may shed light on the Roman soldier’s identity, the cause of his death, and determine whether he had deserted or suffered a different kind of punishment.

More information: ACCIONA 

Share2Tweet2ShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

Ancient ritual spear from Japan’s sacred island reveals East Asia’s earliest gold-inlaid sheath
Archaeology

Ancient ritual spear from Japan’s sacred island reveals East Asia’s earliest gold-inlaid sheath

June 21, 2025
50 World War-era helmets discovered near Wrocław University, Poland
Archaeology

50 World War-era helmets discovered near Wrocław University, Poland

June 21, 2025
6,000-year-old “Venus of Kołobrzeg” confirmed as rare Neolithic discovery in northern Poland
Archaeology

6,000-year-old “Venus of Kołobrzeg” confirmed as rare Neolithic discovery in northern Poland

June 21, 2025
2,000-year-old wall paintings revealed from ‘Beverly Hills of Roman London’ Credit: MOLA
Archaeology

2,000-year-old wall paintings unearthed in ‘Beverly Hills of Roman London’

June 20, 2025
Remarkable 11th-century ritual sword with rare symbolic inlays discovered in Dutch river
Archaeology

Remarkable 11th-century ritual sword with rare symbolic inlays discovered in Dutch river

June 19, 2025
Rare sperm whale tooth unearthed at Valencina Copper Age megasite reveals ancient Iberian coastal connections
Archaeology

Rare sperm whale tooth unearthed at Valencina Copper Age megasite reveals ancient Iberian coastal connections

June 17, 2025

Comments 0

  1. Editorial Team says:
    56 years ago
    Disclaimer: This website is a science-focused magazine that welcomes both academic and non-academic audiences. Comments are written by users and may include personal opinions or unverified claims. They do not necessarily reflect the views of our editorial team or rely on scientific evidence.
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
108K

Threads
42K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

May 28, 2025
Viking-era boat burial unearthed in Norway reveals 1,100-year-old remains of woman and her dog

Viking-era boat burial unearthed in Norway reveals 1,100-year-old remains of woman and her dog

June 9, 2025
6,200-year-old ‘cone-headed’ skull found in Iran reveals cranial modification and death by blunt force

6,200-year-old ‘cone-headed’ skull found in Iran reveals cranial modification and death by blunt force

June 13, 2025
Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

Ancient ritual spear from Japan’s sacred island reveals East Asia’s earliest gold-inlaid sheath

Ancient ritual spear from Japan’s sacred island reveals East Asia’s earliest gold-inlaid sheath

June 21, 2025
50 World War-era helmets discovered near Wrocław University, Poland

50 World War-era helmets discovered near Wrocław University, Poland

June 21, 2025
6,000-year-old “Venus of Kołobrzeg” confirmed as rare Neolithic discovery in northern Poland

6,000-year-old “Venus of Kołobrzeg” confirmed as rare Neolithic discovery in northern Poland

June 21, 2025
2,000-year-old wall paintings revealed from ‘Beverly Hills of Roman London’ Credit: MOLA

2,000-year-old wall paintings unearthed in ‘Beverly Hills of Roman London’

June 20, 2025
Remarkable 11th-century ritual sword with rare symbolic inlays discovered in Dutch river

Remarkable 11th-century ritual sword with rare symbolic inlays discovered in Dutch river

June 19, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.