Evenement
Did she fight disguised as a man?
A grave, weapons and a DNA discovery that challenges common assumptions about viking women.
A viking grave discovered in Sweden challenged more than a century of archaeological interpretations.
In 1878, archaeologists discovered an extraordinary grave in Birka containing a sword, an axe, spears, shields, horses and a military strategy game. For more than a century, the grave was believed to belong to a man.
But in 2017, DNA analysis revealed that the remains belonged to a woman. Buried with objects associated with a high-ranking warrior, she may have held an important position in the viking military world.
Was she actually a warrior? Did she disguise herself as a man? There is no way to know for certain. There is no evidence to tell us how she dressed or to prove that she actually took part in combat.
One thing is certain: this discovery challenged long-held assumptions about the role of women in the viking world.
What was found in her grave?
Weapons, two shields, two horses and a military strategy game, among other objects.
How do we know she was a woman?
A DNA analysis published in 2017 revealed that the remains belonged to a biologically female individual.
Was she really a viking warrior?
Her grave goods suggest that she held an important military status, but it is impossible to say with certainty whether she actually fought in battle.
Was she disguised as a man?