Roman-Era Skull Bearing Signs of Violent Trauma Unearthed in Spain, Shows Evidence of Cranial Tumor

During a caving expedition to the Sima de Marcenejas in northern Spain in 2019, a multidisciplinary team at the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH) discovered Roman-era skull that bears scars of violent trauma and possible signs of brain tumor.

Ancient Battered Skull

The discovered skull dates to between A.D. 258 and 409 and belonged to a man who was likely between 30 and 40 years of age. He possibly died only decades before the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

The outer part of the skull showed three lesions which formed before he died and were probably due to one or more violent attacks. Another lesion was found on the inside and could be the result of a common type of brain tumor known as meningioma. This is considered as the first known case of such condition in an archeological specimen unearthed in the Iberian Peninsula.

Researchers used micro-computed tomography (microCT) to visualize the interior of the brain in detail. This technique allowed the experts to conduct a "virtual autopsy" of the individual and construct a 3D model of the interior and exterior parts of the skull. The surface lesions measured from 0.29 to 0.7 inch (0.7 to 1.8 centimeters) long and 0.04 to 0.59 inch (0.1 to 1.5 cm) wide. Since the lesions were found on the top of the head, it suggests a violent trauma rather than an accidental fall.

On the other hand, the inside lesion is assumed to be caused by meningioma. Upon comparing the historical lesion with a modern meningioma in a 42-year-old woman, the research team found that it was similar in terms of location, size, and shape.

They ruled out other causes like metabolic or infectious disease because only one internal lesion is present without signs of tissue thickening between the two layers of bones in the skull. However, not everyone is convinced that the internal lesion is in fact a brain tumor. As described by Christian Meyer from OsteoARC in Germany, the injury is in contrast to the traumatic lesions found on the outer surface which are quite clear. He believes that interpreting lesions as caused by a possible meningioma is quite ambiguous.

According to research lead author Daniel Rodríguez-Iglesias, their findings offer a glimpse of the health of past populations, raising fundamental questions regarding the ability of such individuals to survive these conditions and the quality of their life thereafter.

What Is Meningioma?

Meningioma refers to a tumor that forms in the meninges, the layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. It is considered as the most common type of brain tumor which affects 170,000 people in the U.S. every year.

Most meningiomas are benign, although they can also become cancerous. They are often found near the top and the outer curve of the brain, or at the base of the skull. Since meningiomas are slow-growing tumors, they do not cause noticeable symptoms until they grow large enough to push on crucial structures around them.

Experts are still not sure about the exact cause of meningioma. Studies have shown that 40% to 80% of all meningiomas are related to an abnormality in chromosome 22 which is involved in suppressing tumor growth. So far, experts have identified hormonal, environmental, and genetic risk factors for this condition.