While finding a Roman soldier's grave dating back to year zero is a big deal, finding the first evidence of a female warrior is just as significant.

Archaeologists have unearthed something truly extraordinary in eastern Hungary: the first-known female burial with weapons from the Hungarian Conquest period. This 10th-century grave containing a medieval woman with weapons has scientists both excited and divided.

This discovery has sparked heated debate about the role of women in medieval society. Women's roles during this time are far from the biggest unsolved medieval mysteries, but this discovery might lend merit to the idea of women as defenders.

The medieval woman with weapons, found in Grave No. 63 at the Sárrétudvari-Hízóföld Cemetery, was buried with archery equipment alongside typical female jewelry items.

So, what kind of societal role did she fit into? And why is this such a huge deal? Let's see.

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A Unique Discovery That Challenges Historical Assumptions

First female burial with weapons from this era found in Hungary

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Hungary may be home to the top-rated tourist destination in the world, but it's also rich in archaeological discoveries. In the early 1980s, archaeologists uncovered a cemetery containing 262 graves from the Hungarian Conquest period at the site of Sárrétudvari-Hízóföld in east-central Hungary.

While 58 of these burials contained weapons used in archery - arrowheads, quivers, or bow plates - only one of these weapon graves also contained jewelry typically associated with female burials.

This sole grave, designated SH-63, contained an adult female buried with an armor-piercing arrowhead, iron quiver parts, and an antler bow plate, alongside traditionally female items like a silver hair ring, three bell buttons, and a string of beads. Researchers used DNA analysis to positively identify the skeleton as female, overcoming challenges posed by the poor preservation of the remains.

Forensic anthropologists use several methods to determine whether the remains are male or female, including traits that are unique to either of those genders.

The Medieval Woman With Weapons

Skeletal remains reveal clues about her life and activities

Europe's first female-led society sets a precedent for having women in positions of power. However, finding a woman warrior at this time and place is unique. Analysis revealed she was an older adult who likely suffered from osteoporosis, a condition commonly associated with aging women.

More intriguingly, her remains showed evidence of healed fractures on her right upper arm bone and both shoulder blades, injuries that could have resulted from falls - a common occurrence in older individuals with osteoporosis, but also potentially connected to a physically active lifestyle.

Rulers During the Period

Magyars

Time of Occupation

9th and 10th centuries CE

Source Excavations Period

1983 to 1985

Archaeologists Have Found The Marks Of A Warrior On The Woman's Skeleton

Significant impact on certain joints and bones makes a compelling case

While science has discovered many things about the Vikings, including their women warriors, this is the first time we've found evidence of something like this in Hungary.

The medieval woman with weapons exhibited skeletal markers suggesting repetitive physical activity, particularly in the joints. These markers are similar to those found in male skeletons buried with weapons and horse-riding equipment in the same cemetery.

These physical indicators point to a lifestyle that may have included activities such as archery or horseback riding - skills that would align with the weaponry found in her grave.

The physical evidence, combined with the burial artifacts, presents a compelling picture of a woman who may have engaged in activities typically associated with male roles in her society.

In many societies, it's uncommon to have weaponry included in a grave unless the person was a warrior. Similarly, jewelry of the type found in the grave is typically reserved for burials of women.

Why Researchers Hesitate To Use The "Warrior" Label

Cultural context and evidence limitations create scholarly caution

If she's both a woman and a warrior, why is there hesitancy? Despite the compelling evidence of weapons and physical indicators of an active lifestyle, researchers remain cautious about definitively labeling this individual as a "warrior."

This hesitation stems from several factors, including the limited historical documentation of female warriors among the Magyars in the 10th century and the complex nature of burial practices. The term "warrior" involves specific social and legal aspects that require additional sources beyond archaeological and anthropological evidence for proper identification.

Gravesite Indicator

SH-63

Total Grave Count

262 graves in the graveyard

No Discrimination in Death

Both male and female graves were present

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Similar Discoveries Of Female "Warriors" And Their Interpretations

How this find compares to other female burials with weapons

The Hungarian discovery joins a small but growing number of female burials with weapons found across Europe and Asia, spanning from ancient to medieval times. In the case of this medieval woman with weapons, researchers point out that there are examples of women buried with weapons from earlier periods in the same region, such as during the Sarmatian and Avar eras.

However, those graves typically contained single weapons or items that might have had talismanic significance rather than the complete archery equipment found in Grave No. 63. Whoever this woman was in life, she was buried with the respect accorded to a warrior. Even if scientists refuse to call her that, her legacy remains evident a thousand years later.