Great Dover Street woman facts for kids

The Great Dover Street woman is the skeleton of a woman from Roman Britain. She was found during excavations in London. Some people think she might have been a female gladiator, but this idea is still being discussed.

Who Was the Great Dover Street Woman?

The Great Dover Street woman lived during the time of the Roman Empire in Britain. Her skeleton was found in 1996 in Southwark, London. This area was once a busy part of Roman London.

Her Discovery

The discovery of the Great Dover Street woman was announced in 2000. It happened after archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology dug up the site in 1996.

Her Roman Burial

Her grave was a special type of cremation burial. This means her body was burned, and then her remains were placed in a pit. This kind of burial, called a bustum funeral, was quite rare in Roman Britain.

Archaeologists found many interesting things in her grave. These included eight unburnt ceramic lamps and eight tazze. Tazze were special cups used in Roman times. There was also evidence of molten glass and gold fabric. Burnt pine cones, chicken, bread, and dates were also found. These items were likely part of the burial ceremony.

Only a small amount of her bones survived the cremation. However, a piece of her pelvis showed that she was a woman. She was likely in her 20s when she died.

Was She a Gladiator?

Some experts believe the Great Dover Street woman might have been a female gladiator. Gladiators were fighters who entertained crowds in ancient Rome. Female gladiators were very rare. This idea is still debated among historians and archaeologists.

See also

• Gladiatrix