An exceptional archaeological discovery at the Sárrétudvari-Hízóföld cemetery in Hungary revealed a unique female burial dating back to the 10th century during the Hungarian conquest. Researchers identified the first known female burial mound in the Carpathian Basin from this period, remarkable for containing both traditional female items and weapons, including an armor-piercing arrowhead, iron parts of a quiver, and a plate made of horn, according to Enikos.
The burial, labeled grave SH-63, was excavated between 1983 and 1985 but was only recently examined in detail using new interdisciplinary methodologies. The use of advanced genetic techniques and thorough analysis of the bones allowed the identification of details that would have been impossible to detect with traditional methods.
Despite the poor preservation of the skeleton, the skull and genetic markers from different areas of the body indicated that the person buried in the grave was a woman. Researchers conducted both morphological and genetic analyses to determine the sex of the individual, as reported by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
Artifacts found in burial mound SH-63 included a bow with a horn plate, arrow fragments, a quiver, a silver hair ring, glass beads, semi-precious stones, and characteristic female jewelry. The presence of weapons alongside traditional female items suggests that the woman may have had a role within the 10th-century Hungarian community related to warfare.
"The burial at the Sárrétudvari-Hízóföld cemetery is unique in its composition of grave goods," said Dr. Balazs Tihanyi, the head of the research group, according to Rossiyskaya Gazeta. "Despite the fact that not many rich burial items were found, it is unique in the composition of burial goods."
The arrangement of the body in grave SH-63, slightly oblique compared to other graves, and the unusual positioning of the grave goods are considered distinctive signs suggesting a burial of particular importance. These features emphasize the uniqueness of the finding and raise questions regarding the role of women during the Hungarian conquest, including the possibility that some women had active roles in warfare or contexts related to the defense of the community.
Analysis of the remains revealed signs of osteopenia, a lack of bone density common in older women. The remains also showed healed injuries that indicate trauma. These signs may be associated with intense physical activity, such as the use of weapons or equestrian practices. These activities are characteristic elements of the life of warriors of the period, according to Enikos.
While it is not certain that the woman participated in battle, her burial suggests that she performed a symbolic or practical role related to war. The presence of weapons alongside female jewelry indicates that women may have had roles ranging from domestic to military or symbolic, according to the researchers.
In contrast, female burials at the cemetery more often contained jewelry such as hair rings, hair ornaments, bead necklaces, bracelets, and finger rings, including a silver hair ornament, glass beads, and semi-precious stone beads. Tools such as knives and awls appeared less frequently in female burials. Male burials, on the other hand, often contained weapons and archery equipment, with common finds such as bows, spears, axes, and sabers, as reported by Scienze Notizie.
The Sárrétudvari-Hízóföld cemetery was used during the period of the Hungarian conquest when many mounted archers led and fought in battles throughout Europe. The group, known for its mounted archers, left its mark on Central Europe both culturally and militarily during the period when the Magyars migrated from the Eurasian steppes to the Lower Danube region.
Although archaeologists have recorded female graves with weapons in other areas and periods, the phenomenon remains extremely rare in the Carpathian Basin. Weapons in female graves were often interpreted as amulets or symbolic elements. However, the context of burial mound 63 suggests a more active function of the weapons.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq