A recent DNA analysis has shed new light on a 4,000-year-old skeleton found in a barrow in southern England. The skeleton, previously thought to be male, has been revealed to be female, challenging long-held beliefs about ancient British society. The discovery was made by Tom Booth, a senior research scientist at the Francis Crick Institute in London, as part of a wider genome sequencing project.
The Significance of the Discovery
The skeleton, known as the Upton Lovell Shaman, was found with a wide range of grave goods, including axes, a gold necklace, and bone points. The presence of these goods suggests that the individual was of high status and may have been a metalworker. The fact that the skeleton is female challenges previous assumptions that female burials found with grave goods must have necessarily been the wives of important men.
Booth believes that the discovery highlights the importance of metalworking in ancient British society and suggests that women may have played a more significant role in this process than previously thought. The fact that the woman was buried with a unique diversity of grave goods, including axes with gold on the edge, suggests that she may have been a skilled metalworker and held a position of power within her community.
The discovery also underscores the need for careful analysis and consideration of the evidence when interpreting ancient remains. Booth noted that the skeleton’s height, which was closer to the average height of a Bronze Age man, may have contributed to the initial assumption that it was male. However, further analysis, including DNA testing, has confirmed that the skeleton is indeed female.
Implications for Our Understanding of Ancient Society
The discovery of the female shaman has significant implications for our understanding of ancient British society. It suggests that women may have played a more prominent role in metalworking and other industries than previously thought and challenges the notion that women were solely relegated to domestic roles. The finding also highlights the importance of considering the social and cultural context in which ancient remains are found, rather than relying on assumptions or stereotypes.
The results of the DNA analysis will be part of a new exhibition at the Francis Crick Institute, titled ‘We Go Way Back.’ The exhibition will provide a unique insight into the lives of ancient individuals and will help to advance our understanding of past societies and the people who lived in them.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
