Archaeological experts have finally unraveled the mystery surrounding the remains of an ancient warrior found in a 2,000-year-old grave off the coast of Britain, concluding that the buried individual was, in fact, female.

This enigmatic Iron Age figure was discovered on Bryher, one of the Scilly Isles southwest of mainland Britain, back in 1999.

The grave held a sword and shield, traditionally associated with male burials, alongside a mirror, a typical burial item for women.

A recent study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports utilized tooth enamel analysis, revealing a 96% probability that the person was female, NBC News has reported.

Dated from BC 100 to BC 50, this burial site provides a rare glimpse into ancient British life and challenges previous assumptions about gender roles in warfare.

It suggests that women might have actively participated in military raids even before the famous tribal warrior queen Boudicca led a fierce uprising against Roman colonization in AD 60.

The discovery has sparked excitement among researchers, with Sarah Stark, a human skeletal biologist at Historic England, which funded the study, stating that the findings offer an opportunity to reinterpret this significant burial.

The combination of a sword and mirror implies high status within her community and suggests that this woman may have held a commanding role in local warfare, possibly organizing or leading raids on rival groups.

This revelation adds to our understanding of the important roles women played in ancient societies and their contributions to military activities during the Iron Age.

Written by staff