Roman gladiator remains uncovered

ANKARA, Turkey, May 2 (UPI) -- Scientists say they may have uncovered ancient gladiator bones in Turkey.

The graves, which contain thousands of bones, were found at Ephesus, which was a major city in Roman times, BBC Timewatch said Wednesday.

Kark Grossschmidt and Fabian Kanz, pathologists at the Medical University of Vienna, have studied the remains of at least 67 individuals found at the site. Many have healed wounds, which suggests they were prized men getting good and expensive medical treatment.

The lack of multiple wounds on the bones suggests they died in organized duels under strict rules of combat.

Anthropologist Charlotte Roberts of Durham University told BBC Timewatch the find "is extremely significant."

"There's nothing been found in the world at all like it. They've really dispelled quite a lot of myths about gladiators and how they fought," she said.