The remains were found on the site of the university’s £500million expansion in Heslington East near the route of an old Roman road between York and Barton-on-Humber.
A skull of a man, who was aged between 26 and 35 years and just 5 foot 4 inches tall, was discovered in May 2008 while the topsoil was being removed from a site designated for students to excavate. Following the results of the carbon dating, it has now been revealed, the man died in the 4th century AD, late Roman times.
“The discovery of the body is highly significant, the man was definitely a victim of TB which developed in his spine and pelvis” said Heslington East Fieldwork Officer Cath Neal.
“Whether it manifested itself like the most common form of TB does, through coughing up blood is impossible to say. However it has been confirmed he did die from a form of TB.”