SECRETS OF THE DEAD

HEADLESS ROMANS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23 @ 8:00PM & 11:00PM

SECRETS OF THE DEAD: Headless Romans follows forensic investigators as they examine dozens of Roman-era skeletons unearthed in York, England. They were discovered recently, posed in a gruesome tableau of violent death, their heads hacked off and placed at their feet or in other odd places, suggesting desecration and humiliation even in death. Were they barbarian prisoners from the wilds of Caledonia beyond the Roman border of Hadrian’s Wall? Were they soldiers killed in battle or executed for crimes against Rome? The surprising answer comes from a combination of forensic and archaeological evidence and ancient Roman accounts, and involves rivalry and revenge over the imperial throne.

“It was an amazing moment. I remember standing with our site manager and we looked at the first decapitated burial. … The skull had been taken off and put down by the feet, as I recall. Then we started finding other things, which were rather unusual, like a skeleton with these great, thick iron rings — shackles, if you will — around its ankles.” — Patrick Ottaway, archaeologist.
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