"Unearthed Roman Burial Reveals Mysterious Restraints on Elite Warrior"
Archaeologists have discovered the burial of an elite Roman man in Wales, dating back to the third or fourth century A.D. The skeleton was found facedown and adorned with a silver pin and a sword, suggesting he may have been a Roman soldier. However, the presence of large nails near his neck, back, and feet indicates that he may have been restrained at death. The man's personal ornaments and the presence of a silver crossbow-style brooch suggest he was an elite member of the Roman military. The burial also included the remains of hobnailed boots and evidence of mastoiditis, a bacterial infection. The reasons for the prone burial position and the discovery of other atypical burials in Roman Britain remain a mystery.