Scientists have made a terrifying discovery after studying the remains of a slave discovered in 2017 in the English village of Fenstanton (Cambridgeshire), according to the Daily Mail.
Several years ago, archaeologists found in this area a human skeleton, 170 centimeters tall and 25-35 years old, with an iron nail driven into the heel. Radiocarbon dating then showed that the man died between 130-337 AD – during the reign of the Roman Empire in the territory of modern England.
Fragments of a wooden structure with which the slave was buried were also found next to the body. This find, according to scientists, is the first evidence of human crucifixion in the UK.
“In fact, this is the first time we have found physical evidence of a crucifixion during archaeological work,” – commented the head of the excavation, David Ingham.
Although this execution is usually associated with Christianity, archaeologists do not believe that there is any connection with religion in this case. After the research, the experts came to the conclusion that the slave was not crucified on a cross, but on some other structure.
Excavation in the village of Fenstanton, England
Scientists made such a conclusion after they did not find other nails in the man’s body. Moreover, it is possible that there were two boards: the slave was nailed to one, and tied to the other.
According to archaeologists, the nail passing through his heel was most likely meant to simply immobilize the slave, but not support his weight.
For what this man was subjected to the highest degree of punishment – scientists have not yet figured out.
The Daily Mail notes that in ancient Rome, criminals, enemies of the state, pirates, slaves and other people with low social status were usually executed by crucifixion. And Roman laws also prescribed: if one of the slaves kills his master, then all the slaves of this person, including women and children, must also be executed in this way.
Crucifixion was the main form of the death penalty in the Roman Empire until it was banned during the reign of Constantine the Great (306–337 AD).
