The remains of a “Roman slave” were found in Cambridgeshire, Britain, with a two-inch iron nail that was inserted through the heel bone, in a discovery that scholars considered the best example of “human cruelty and the death penalty”.
Scientists analyzed radioactive carbon skeletal remains found by archaeologists in 2017, revealing “horrific” details of a Roman slave who was killed between 130 and 337 AD.
The skeleton of a man believed to have been between 25 and 35 years old at the time of his death was found on a wooden frame.
Archaeologists have discovered The first example of a Roman crucifixion in the UK; in Fenstanton – announcement by @CambsCC https://t.co/E9VEVPD9lA pic.twitter.com/nVbwcQEGJm
— Mark Williamson (@markrwilliamson) December 8, 2021
Corinne Duhigg, an archaeologist at the University of Cambridge, said in statements to the newspaper “MailOnline”, that the man who was called “Fenstanton”, “may have been a slave and committed some crime or misdemeanour, a crime that would not have led to his crucifixion if he was of the rank of higher (non-slave)”.
https://youtu.be/vgqav2tgp2g
According to the study published in the scientific journal “livescience”, the results of the analysis and the fact that there were no other nails in the man’s body indicate that he was attached to a separate wooden structure, by inserting a nail into the heel bone to prevent him from escaping, meaning that he may be solid.
The first example of a Roman crucifixion in the #UK has been unearthed in a Cambridgeshire village.
The skeletal remains of a man with a nail through his heel were discovered during archaeological excavations ahead of building work for a new housing development in Fenstanton.
📸 pic.twitter.com/QAO4TgHyro— Mete Sohtaoğlu (@metesohtaoglu) December 8, 2021
“During the crucifixion of the man, his arms were probably bound on a (wooden) cross, with his feet fixed on the ground. This position made breathing difficult, and he would suffocate. Even for slaves it was reserved for one of the most serious crimes, such as rebellion or treason of the state.”
Physical evidence confirms that the man was subjected to crucifixion, although this procedure is rare, and researchers are uncertain about the reason for his crucifixion, but it is believed that severe punishments (such as crucifixion and others) at that time were imposed for serious crimes, such as political crimes, treason or sedition and rape and others.