Solving an ancient cold case: Roman was brutally murdered
This 2,000-year-old cold case offered a wealth of information, Leiden archaeologists Carol van Driel-Murray and Mark Driessen explain. Few skeletons from the late Iron Age and early Roman era have been preserved, making this largely intact skeleton a valuable research resource. In their new book Victims of Violence from the Early Roman Fort Velsen, Van Driel-Murray and Driessen reconstruct the…
In 1977, amateur archaeologists uncovered the nearly complete skeleton of a Roman soldier near the site of the ancient Roman fort of Velsen. The individual, who stood at an impressive 1.90 meters (6 feet, 3 inches) tall, was found with a military belt, dagger, ring, brooch, and soldier's sandal buried in a well. This discovery, along with others, led archaeologists Carol van Driel-Murray and Mark Driessen to reopen the ancient cold case of a brutal murder.
Using a combination of archaeological, historical, and forensic methods, they determined the cause of death was likely multiple stab wounds inflicted by a Roman military dagger. Tooth enamel analysis revealed the man likely spent his childhood in southern Europe, while a worn Roman dagger and a belt composed of different pieces suggest he was probably a regular soldier.
The researchers explored several scenarios for his murder, including retaliation by fellow soldiers for misconduct or a Frisian attack seeking retribution for taxes as described by Roman historian Tacitus. However, the true identity of the perpetrator and motive remains unclear, leaving room for further research and speculation.
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