Game Changing Discovery of Ancient Women Warriors

The latest scientific reevaluation of human remains found in Sárrétudvari, Hungary, has revealed that the skeleton belongs to a woman. This discovery gives women a fresh perspective on their role as ancient warriors.

“The inclusion of weapons seems to be common here in male burials, and seems to indicate a martial role; so, I think we ought to accept it for her, too,” says archaeologist Simon Mays of the U.K.’s University of Southampton.

Misidentification has been common in the last decade, including about a young woman buried with stone projectile points some 9,000 years ago un Peru, a woman buried with a sword and shield some 2,000 years ago on the British Isles of Scilly, a (possibly) nonbinary person buried with a sword some 1,000 years ago in Finland, and the warrior grave of a Viking woman in Sweden. The human remains found in the 1980s in Hungary are no exception. Within grave number 63, there was evidence of archery – an arrowhead, pieces of an iron quiver, and the middle section of a bow made from antlers – as well as jewelry typical of the graves of women at the site, like buttons, beads, and a ring for holding long hair. Evidence of healed injuries, wear on the joints, and osteoporosis suggested that not only was the woman physically active during her life, but she was also middle-aged or elderly when she died. All these discoveries have already challenged stereotypes and historical assumptions, changing the perception of history and women’s role in warfare.