How the female Viking warrior was written out of history

What Bj 581, the‘female Viking warrior’ tells us about assumed gender roles in archaeological inquiryIn the 1880s Scandinavian archaeologists unearthed a grave containing all the implements required for battle, including shields, an axe, a spear, a sword, and a bow with a set of heavy arrows, along with two horses, a mare and a stallion. A set of game pieces has long lead researchers to believe that this person was interested in strategy, and may have used the pieces to plan battle tactics. It was the grave of a Viking warrior and naturally was assumed to be a male. It was designated, and continues to be referred to, as Bj 581.Related:Does new DNA evidence prove that there were female viking warlords?Continue reading...

Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - September 15, 2017 Category: Science Authors: Holly Norton Tags: Archaeology Anthropology Science Source Type: news