News Archaeology

A mysterious ancient grave with a sword and mirror belonged to a woman

The find may add to growing evidence that suggests women long ago could be warriors

Sword and bronze mirror from a 2,000-year-old grave in England

Evidence indicates that bone fragments in a roughly 2,000-year-old grave in England, which also contained a sword and bronze mirror (shown), belonged to a woman who might have fought in or planned violent raids.

© Historic England Archive

By Bruce Bower

A roughly 2,000-year-old woman with a potentially violent streak has emerged from skeletal rubble found on an island off southwestern England’s coast.