Hi all,
More evidence recently emerged that demonstrates that historically women engaged in combat. I wrote a post three years ago in response to criticism that I was having the women in my books be too effective as fighters against male opponents. You can find that post here: https://www.jwelliot.com/2556/
 
A new study of a body found on the island of Scilly off the coast of England dated from 100 BCE to 50 BCE throws yet more light on this question. The body was discovered in 1999 buried with a sword, a shield, and a bronze mirror. The grave confused archaeologists because shields and swords are normally found only with male warriors, while mirrors are only found with women. The bones were too deteriorated to allow for gender analysis based on bone structure or DNA analysis. A new method of testing tooth enamel, the hardest substance in the human body, demonstrated that the body was female.
 
This woman was most likely a high-status warrior who may have led raids or otherwise participated in local warfare more than one hundred years before Queen Boudicca led her ferocious rebellion against the Romans in 60 CE.
You can find the report here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X23002742
 
This is not to say that all woman fought or wanted to fight. It does demonstrate that female warriors were widespread across space and time. Our task is to understand those cultures, those individuals, and the context that created them.

Cheers,
James

An Iron Age sword and mirror found at the Bryher burial site. Historic England Archive. [Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/old-iron-age-female-warrior-scilly-iburial-rcna96595]