• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Archaeology

Isles of Scilly Iron Age warrior was a woman, study says

by Dario Radley
July 27, 2023

Archaeologists have finally unraveled the mystery surrounding a 2,000-year-old grave discovered on Bryher, one of the Isles of Scilly off the coast of Britain.

Initially believed to be a male burial due to the presence of a sword and shield, the recent study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports revealed that the individual buried was, in fact, a woman.

The grave’s unique combination of a sword and a bronze mirror, both typically associated with gender-specific burials, has intrigued researchers since its discovery in 1999.

The individual’s remains, found in a stone-walled chamber in a potato field, were in a highly decomposed state, rendering traditional DNA analysis inconclusive. Nevertheless, the groundbreaking study employed innovative biomolecular analysis techniques at the University of California to examine tooth enamel from the remains.

As Dr. Glendon Parker, an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Environmental Toxicology at the University of California, Davis, explained, tooth enamel contains proteins that provide insights into the individual’s sex. The analysis resulted in a 96% probability that the buried warrior was female.

RelatedStories

4,500-year-old dog tooth–adorned bags unearthed in Germany reveal burial practices of Neolithic elites

4,500-year-old dog tooth–adorned bags unearthed in Germany reveal burial practices of Neolithic elites

July 14, 2025
Roman cavalry swords lead to discovery of Iron Age settlement and possible Roman villa in Gloucestershire. Credit: James Haris

Roman cavalry swords lead to discovery of Iron Age settlement and possible Roman villa in Gloucestershire

July 7, 2025

The rich assortment of grave goods found alongside the individual included shield fittings, a ring for a sword belt, a copper brooch and ring, woven textile fibers, and what appeared to be a sheep or goat skin.

This collection of artifacts, combined with the presence of a sword and mirror, suggests that the woman was a person of significance, likely playing a leading role in warfare and raids on rival groups.

“Our findings provide evidence of a leading role for a woman in warfare on Iron Age Scilly,” said Sarah Stark, a human skeletal biologist at Historic England, which funded the study.

The discovery challenges traditional notions of gender roles during the Iron Age and sheds light on the potential involvement of women in acts of violence and warfare.

During the Iron Age in Britain, the predominant form of warfare involved surprise attacks on enemy settlements, making the presence of the mirror particularly intriguing. Mirrors served both practical and symbolic purposes, being used to signal allies, coordinate attacks, and communicate with the supernatural world. The unique combination of a mirror and a shield in the Bryher grave stands as the only one of its kind in Western Europe.

The identity of the buried warrior could potentially provide valuable insights into ancient British society. The findings imply that women may have taken active roles in military raids before the well-known warrior queen Boudicca led her uprising against Roman colonization in CE 60.

ShareTweetShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

Antikythera shipwreck reveals ancient shipbuilding secrets in 2025 excavation
Archaeology

Antikythera shipwreck reveals ancient shipbuilding secrets in 2025 excavation

July 15, 2025
Rural rituals and astral burials shaped ancient Egyptian religion and the myths of Isis and Osiris
Anthropology

Rural rituals and astral burials shaped ancient Egyptian religion and the myths of Isis and Osiris

July 15, 2025
4,500-year-old dog tooth–adorned bags unearthed in Germany reveal burial practices of Neolithic elites
Anthropology

4,500-year-old dog tooth–adorned bags unearthed in Germany reveal burial practices of Neolithic elites

July 14, 2025
Mad emperor Caligula had surprising medical knowledge, new research reveals from ancient Roman texts
Archaeology

Mad emperor Caligula had surprising medical knowledge, new research reveals from ancient Roman texts

July 13, 2025
1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle
Anthropology

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle

July 12, 2025
11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals
Archaeology

11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals

July 12, 2025

Comments 2

  1. Editorial Team says:
    56 years ago
    Disclaimer: This website is a science-focused magazine that welcomes both academic and non-academic audiences. Comments are written by users and may include personal opinions or unverified claims. They do not necessarily reflect the views of our editorial team or rely on scientific evidence.
  2. Paul Gheorghiu says:
    2 years ago

    Istoria este atat de greu de descifrat, incat nu se poate exclude. Desigur ca intr-o istorie asa de diversa in spatiu si timp, putem crede fara a gresi, ca si femeile au luptat cot la cot cu barbatii, ca au condus luptele anumite formatiuni razboinice, ca purtau arme de tot felul. Dar nu trebuie sa ne directioneze spre o concluzie ferma. Prezenta unei simple “oglinzi” de bronz, (cine garanteaza ca a fost oglinda?), poate fi interpretata ca prada a unui razboinic, pentru sotia lui… Multe din artefactele descoperite in timp, au fost si vor fi catalogate eronat.

  3. Pingback: Archaeology 2023-09-18 – Ingram Braun

Follow us


Instagram
246K

Facebook
111K

Threads
43K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Shipwreck Salvage. Credit: rawpixel.com / Public Domain

2,000-year-old shipwreck discovered off Turkish coast with remarkably preserved stacked ceramics

July 2, 2025
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Mad emperor Caligula had surprising medical knowledge, new research reveals from ancient Roman texts

Mad emperor Caligula had surprising medical knowledge, new research reveals from ancient Roman texts

July 13, 2025
Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore, study finds

Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore

July 3, 2025
Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

July 3, 2025
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Antikythera shipwreck reveals ancient shipbuilding secrets in 2025 excavation

Antikythera shipwreck reveals ancient shipbuilding secrets in 2025 excavation

July 15, 2025
Rural rituals and astral burials shaped ancient Egyptian religion and the myths of Isis and Osiris

Rural rituals and astral burials shaped ancient Egyptian religion and the myths of Isis and Osiris

July 15, 2025
4,500-year-old dog tooth–adorned bags unearthed in Germany reveal burial practices of Neolithic elites

4,500-year-old dog tooth–adorned bags unearthed in Germany reveal burial practices of Neolithic elites

July 14, 2025
Castillian ambassadors attempting to convince Almohad king Abu Hafs Umar al-Murtada to join their alliance. Contemporary depiction from The Cantigas de Santa Maria. Public Domain

Zīrid Ifrīqiya and the Islamic world in the 10th–12th centuries: an international conference at UCL

July 14, 2025
Mad emperor Caligula had surprising medical knowledge, new research reveals from ancient Roman texts

Mad emperor Caligula had surprising medical knowledge, new research reveals from ancient Roman texts

July 13, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.