Archaeologists look to have settled a long-standing debate after finding proof that Roman gladiators did, in fact, fight bears.
A Serbian team's find at Viminacium, an ancient military stronghold and regional capital along the Danube, marks the first time researchers have uncovered actual bone evidence of these creatures in combat entertainment.
A fractured bear skull dating back some 1,700 years emerged during excavations near the amphitheatre entrance in 2016.
The research team's findings, now published in the journal Antiquity, validate what historical texts and artistic depictions have suggested for centuries - but lacked concrete support.
The state of the skull - a six-year-old male brown bear's - indicates the animal suffered a fatal head wound.
The research team's findings, now published in the journal Antiquity, validate what historical texts and artistic depictions have suggested for centuries
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Researchers believe the injury came from a weapon in the heat of arena combat.
Advanced imaging and microscopic analysis of the skull revealed a severe frontal impact which had started healing - but became massively infected.
The injury showed evidence of initial recovery, suggesting the animal survived at least one brutal encounter.
But the bear's untreated infection ultimately proved fatal, killing the it before its wounds could properly mend.
Further studies of the furry predator's teeth uncovered extensive wear patterns and jaw damage consistent with repetitive cage-biting behaviour.
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PICTURED: The ruins of Viminacium, and a wooden reconstruction of the amphitheatre at the site
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These "stress indicators", combined with the bear's relatively young age at death, painted a grim picture of prolonged captivity and arena appearances before its final, fatal bout.
Scientists said the teeth and jaw damage resulted from persistent gnawing at enclosure bars, a behaviour typical of distressed captive animals.
And it wasn't just bears at Viminacium.
The amphitheatre site also yielded the bones of a leopard, confirming its function as a venue for wildlife slaughter.
In its heyday, the arena accommodated between 7,000 and 12,000 viewers.
Morning programmes featured animal hunts and battles, followed by executions at midday and gladiatorial matches during afternoon sessions, mirroring the schedule of Rome's Colosseum.
PICTURED: A small-scale model of the amphitheatre and surrounding settlement at Viminacium at the site's visitor centre
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The Roman Empire's insatiable demand for exotic creatures fuelled an extensive wildlife trafficking network stretching from Britain to North Africa.
Professional trappers and traders supplied provincial venues with regional fauna, whilst major urban centres imported more exotic species.
Bears held particular appeal for their formidable strength and were regularly featured in morning animal hunts.
The Viminacium specimen was likely captured in the surrounding Balkan wilderness - the arena sits at the base of the Carpathian mountains and not far from the modern-day Romanian border.
The nearby settlement, meanwhile, housed approximately 40,000 residents and served as a crucial military outpost on the empire's eastern boundary.