An Early Armenian female warrior of the 8–6 century BC from Bover I site (Armenia)

Abstract

Exploration of the weapon-related traumas on human remains allows us to reconstruct the episodes of violence. This paper is an attempt of reconstructing the life and death of a female buried in the Early Armenian necropolis of Bover I (Shnogh, Lori Province) based on a multidisciplinary approach integrating archaeological, written, and palaeopathological data derived from the skeletal analysis. The remains unearthed in Tomb N 17 belonged to a woman who seemed to live as a professional warrior and was buried as an individual of rank. During our work, we identified a rich array of traumatic lesions, which shed light on her daily activities, occupation, and warfare practice. We also analysed a trapped metal arrowhead in her femur. For this region, projectile injury to bone, induced by an arrow wound, strongly suggests interpersonal aggression. The same individual also suffered blows to the pelvic bone, femur, and tibia. This tomb is the second burial discovered in Armenia that provides evidence on female warriors. KEYWORDS Armenia, Bover I, Early Armenian Period, female warrior, traumasIn olden times, the earth thundered with the pounding of horses' hooves. In that long ago age, women would saddle their horses, grab their lances, and ride forth with their men folk to meet the enemy in battle on the steppes. The women of that time could cut out an enemy's heart with their swift, sharp swords.Caucasus tradition, Nart sagas 26 (Mayor, 2016, p. 17)

Warrior burial of the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age: The phenomenon of women warriors from the Jrapi cemetery (Shirak Province, Armenia)

“…Skeletal bone injuries: (a) compression fracture of the parietal border of the frontal bone (skeleton 2); (b) antremotem injury right parietal bone (skeleton 1); (c) penetrating hole on the left side of the lower jaw (skeleton 2); (d) bronze arrowhead was stuck in the soft tissues of the intercostal space (left 4 and 5) (skeleton 1); (e) deep canal in the tibia; (f) in left femora exhibiting an iron splinter embedded (Khudaverdyan et al, 2020); (g) strong pectoralis major and deltoid muscle attachments on a humerus (skeleton 1); (h) m. biceps brachii on a radius, m. brachialis on a ulna (skeleton 2) [Colour figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]…”

“…In the literature traumas found in the skeletal remains of the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages Armenia have often been put into the context of interpersonal conflict (Khudaverdyan, 2014b; Khudaverdyan & Hobosyan, 2017). Using a population perspective, it may be possible to assess the effect of violence on specific members of society, such as women (Khudaverdyan, 2021; Khudaverdyan et al, 2020; Wilkinson & Van Wagenen, 1993). Examining the lesions on the bones of the studied individuals' from the Jrapi cemetery, it should be noted that the skeleton 1 had a bended bronze arrowhead stuck in the intercostal space (left 4 and 5) (Figure 3d).…”

“…The twin burial (№ 18) of a woman of about 36–50 can be added to the above‐mentioned list (Fialko, 2015). According to archeological and anthropological sources, there are many other cases of lesions inflicted from arrows (Armendariz et al, 1994; Campillo et al, 1993; Khudaverdyan, 2014b; Khudaverdyan et al, 2020; Lieverse et al, 2014; Milner, 2005; Polet et al, 1996; Ryan & Milner, 2006; Sciulli et al, 1988; Silva & Marques, 2010; Tur et al, 2016, etc. ).…”

“…We know nothing about their social position, but the burial with rich inventory testifies to high status (Figures 1 and 2a–c). Although the overall position of women was lower than men, on the whole it was not bad (Hmayakyan, 2001; Khudaverdyan et al, 2020). Hippocrates reported that it was the working for younger women to custom warlike arts and serve as soldiers, whereas older women would go to war exclusively in emergencies (Bogachenko & Maksimenko, 2011).…”

“…Homer's information about the Amazons proves that they were well‐known at his time. Existence of female military units along with women warriors (Nelson, 1997) and commanders had been historically recorded (Jones‐Bley, 2008; Khudaverdyan, 2014b; Khudaverdyan et al, 2020). The archaic Ossetin Nart epics occasionally mention special military units of women warriors (Kaloev, 1959).…”