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An almost complete skeleton, discovered in 1977 at the bottom of a well in the Roman fort of Velsen in the Netherlands, is the subject of a new investigation. According to Leiden University, researchers have multiplied their analyses and reconstructed a murder of great violence, committed about two thousand years ago. Their study, gathered in a book entitled "Victims of Violence from the Early Roman Fort Velsen", proposes several scenarios without definitively settling the matter.
An Old Discovery at the Bottom of a Well
In 1977, amateur archaeologists uncovered, at the site of the Roman fort of Velsen, a well in which an almost entire man lay. The deceased wore a military belt, a dagger, a ring, a brooch and a soldier's sandal.
The discovery was quickly linked to an ancient account. In his Annals, the Roman historian Tacitus describes the revolt of the Frisians in the year 28, triggered by the rise in taxes demanded by Rome. A connection with this murder seemed possible, but remained to be verified.
A Multidisciplinary Scientific Investigation
Faced with the questions raised by this skeleton, the team chose to reopen the case. For several years, archaeologists, specialists and students examined the remains using cutting-edge techniques: isotopic analyses, forensic expertise, osteoarchaeological analysis and 3D modelling.
The researchers thus recorded numerous traces of dagger blows on the rib cage and several perforations of the pelvis. Thanks to three-dimensional models, they were able to reconstruct how these wounds had been inflicted, probably with a Roman military dagger, perhaps the one found near the body.
A Brutal and Targeted Murder
The number of wounds surprised the specialists. According to the forensic experts cited by the team, this was a particularly brutal homicide, reflecting intense anger towards the victim. The researchers see it as a deliberate act of revenge rather than a defensive fight within the fort.
This finding leads to setting aside the hypothesis of an ordinary attack. It indicates that one or more perpetrators specifically targeted this man, with a violence that exceeds what a military clash usually leaves behind.
Who Was the Victim?
The researchers believe he was more likely a simple soldier than an officer. His dagger was worn and his belt was made of mismatched parts, while the scabbard was of a more refined Roman style. Standing about 1.90 metres tall, the man was remarkably tall and muscular for his time.
The archaeologists of the 1980s had suggested he might have been a Frisian. Isotopic analyses of the tooth enamel, however, revealed a childhood spent in Southern Europe, the enamel retaining traces of the food and water consumed during youth.
Several Scenarios for a Single Crime
As in any cold case investigation, the question of the culprit remains open. "We are trying to solve an ancient murder with modern methods, and we are not choosing any one theory," explains Mark Driessen, one of the authors. The book therefore examines several hypotheses: an assault by the Frisians motivated by taxation, as Tacitus reports, the execution of a deserter by the military command, or revenge by members of the local population.
Driessen and Carol van Driel-Murray nevertheless consider a murder committed by fellow soldiers, in retaliation for a misdeed, to be more likely. They invite readers to form their own conclusion and even wish to entrust the story to a writer of historical fiction. The skeleton, held at the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, could feature in the future exhibition devoted to the Netherlands under the Roman Empire.
Frequently asked questions
Who was the man found in the Velsen well?
He was probably a simple Roman soldier, of great height and very muscular. Tooth enamel analyses indicate that he spent his childhood in Southern Europe. His exact identity remains unknown.
How was the murder reconstructed?
The researchers combined isotopic analyses, forensic expertise and 3D modelling. These tools made it possible to locate and reconstruct numerous dagger blows. The wounds seem to have been caused by a Roman military dagger.
Is the murder linked to the Frisian revolt?
A link was considered based on Tacitus's account of the revolt of the year 28. The authors do not accept it without evidence, since written sources and archaeological remains do not always tell the same story. They present this lead as one scenario among others.
Where can the remains of this Roman skeleton be seen?
The skeleton is held at the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, the Netherlands. The museum is considering including this story in its future permanent display on the Netherlands in Roman times.
Sources
Original summary written with the help of artificial intelligence from the sources cited, checked automatically, then translated from the French original. Information and quotations belong to their authors. Read the French original.
