Photos show a few of these graves. One tomb has a skeleton placed on a layer of tile. Another is covered by an A-frame-like structure made of tiles. A photo shows the blue-tinged mausoleum with nooks along its sides for holding funeral urns.

It was an ancient forum that once housed Roman gladiators and a vast necropolis containing a tomb steeped in gladiatorial history not far from the amphitheatre, thanks to a funerary inscription carved into the marble. The excavators found that much of the original design was well preserved after centuries, with white plaster decorations in some sections, red details in others, and a rectangular mausoleum with gray tuff blocks measuring up to 10 feet. Again, plastered niches containing urns inside the tombs suggest the site was in long-term use.

The teams have meticulously unearthed around 20 graves, likely in use from the 1st century BC to the 3rd century AD (the Middle Empire). The discovery of coins, oil lamps, and small vases, which were meticulously catalogued and studied, helped archaeologists accurately date the site. The team identified a variety of burial styles; some sections of the graves were covered with roof tiles, and others contained remains placed in elaborate boxes. A deep well was also discovered at the site, which experts believe was used for ceremonies or rituals as part of burial traditions.

However, the most critical artifact found so far was an epitaph, or tombstone, with an inscription referencing a gladiator. The findings, of immense historical significance, are still being analysed and offer a glimpse into the role of gladiators in ancient Roman society. The researchers believe the necropolis (and the ancient settlement as a whole) contains the remains of many gladiators. While this warrior’s final resting place is the highlight of the discovery, there is still much more history the excavation is working to uncover.

A similar grave was recently discovered in Türkiye in October 2024. During excavations at the Byzantine St. John Basilica in the Selçuk district of Izmir, the grave of a Roman gladiator named Fırat, about whom little or nothing was known, dating back to the 3rd century AD, was found. This discovery not only adds to our understanding of Roman gladiatorial history but also highlights the global spread of Roman culture and influence.

The most surprising aspect of the discovery was that this grave was later used again in the 5th century, and the evidence for this was the presence of bones belonging to twelve people. This finding raises interesting questions about burial practices and societal changes during this period. The discovery of one grave and three grave structures containing 12 people led to speculation that they may have been used in a mass grave, further deepening our understanding of ancient Roman burial traditions.