This week, a string of archaeological studies lend insight into Roman gladiators, an ancient crocodile-like beast, and a prehistoric bird nearly lost to time.

Bite marks found on the skeleton of a Roman gladiator are the first archaeological evidence of combat between a human and a lion, experts say. The remains were discovered during a 2004 dig at Driffield Terrace,

A discovery in an English garden led to the first direct evidence that man fought beast to entertain the subjects of the Roman Empire.