Archaeologists have unearthed a pair of ancient Roman boxing gloves near Hadrian’s Wall in England, believed to be the only surviving examples of their kind. The artifacts, dating to 120 A.D., were discovered in a cavalry barrack beneath the Vindolanda Roman fort.
The gloves are designed more like padded knuckle guards than modern boxing gloves, constructed from thick leather and stuffed with natural material to absorb impact. Despite their age, they are in remarkable condition, with the leather still supple and bearing the imprints of the wearer’s knuckles.
Though found together, the two gloves are not a matching pair. They were exceptionally well-preserved due to the dry, oxygen-free conditions created when they were concealed beneath a concrete floor.
This discovery provides the first physical evidence for Roman boxing, a sport previously known only through depictions in mosaics and paintings. “It’s always tremendously exciting when you find something that you know about through other sources… but to see the real thing is something quite unique,” said Patricia Birley, former director of the Vindolanda Trust.
The find offers a rare human connection to the past. The larger of the two gloves shows signs of being repaired, suggesting its owner valued it highly. “The owner has really wanted to keep this thing going, so he’s done his utmost to repair it and patch it,” Birley noted. “It’s that human touch that you get through the real object.”
The gloves were found alongside other military items and personal possessions. For the Roman army, boxing was a common pastime and a method for honing fighting skills, often practiced as a competitive spectator sport. The artifacts will be put on display at the Vindolanda site museum.
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