Archaeologists in Scotland Discovered the Skeleton of a Roman-Era Man Who Was Decapitated Nearly 2

A digital facial reconstruction of the man, whose head was severed after his death, will soon go on view in Edinburgh. It depicts an individual in his early 50s, with graying hair and brown eyes. Archaeologists in Scotland Discovered the Skeleton of a Roman-Era Man Who Was Decapitated Nearly 2,000 Years Ago. Now, You Can See What He Might Have Looked Like During His Lifetime.

A facial reconstruction of a man whose decapitated skeleton was found in Musselburgh, Scotland, in 2010 © Chris Rynn In 2010, archaeologists conducting excavations ahead of construction in Musselburgh, Scotland, stumbled upon the remains of four Roman-era men. Their heads had been separated from their bodies, apparently after death. Experts don’t know exactly why these individuals were decapitated postmortem, but they have a few theories: Perhaps the ritual was a holdover from an early Celtic cult that attributed power to severed heads.

Alternatively, the beheadings might have served as a punishment or a precaution to ensure the dead didn’t come back to life. The rationale for the decapitations might be unclear, but that hasn’t stopped archaeologists from piecing together what happened to these ancient Britons during their lifetimes. Thanks to an advanced collaboration led by National Museums Scotland (NMS), the public can now envision what one of the men looked like when he died in his early 50s, between 140 and 165 C.E.

A digital reconstruction of his face will soon go on view alongside his skull in “ Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire,” a forthcoming exhibition at NMS’ flagship Edinburgh location. Need to know: Roman Scotland Soldiers led by the Roman general Agricola invaded what is now Scotland in 79 C.E., winning a major victory at the Battle of Mons Graupius in 83 or 84.