Archaeologists have identified the first confirmed female burial with weapons from 10th-century Hungary, challenging traditional assumptions about gender roles in the medieval Carpathian Basin. The groundbreaking discovery, published in PLOS ONE by an international team led by Dr. Balázs Tihanyi of the University of Szeged, provides unprecedented evidence of a woman buried with complete archery equipment during the Hungarian Conquest period - a time when mounted archers dominated European warfare.
The individual, designated SH-63, was discovered in the Sárrétudvari-Hízóföld cemetery, the largest known 10th-century burial ground in the Carpathian Basin containing 262 graves. Her burial contained a unique combination of traditionally feminine grave goods alongside a complete warrior's archery kit, including an armor-piercing arrowhead, antler bow plate, and iron quiver fragments. Through comprehensive archaeological, anthropological, and genetic analysis, researchers confirmed both the individual's biological sex and the unprecedented nature of her weapon assemblage.
"The grave goods found in the burial of SH-63 contained a mix of characteristics typically associated with both male and female burials," explained Dr. Tihanyi. "Compared to other graves in the cemetery, its inventory was relatively simple, including common jewelry and clothing fittings, but uniquely combined with archery equipment traditionally found only in male warrior burials."
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A) Silhouette of the skeleton of SH-63 (drawing by Luca Kis based on the original field drawing by Ibolya M. Nepper); B) Illustration of the burial based on archaeological, anthropological, and archaeogenetic data (drawing by Luca Kis). (B. Tihanyi et al./ PLoS ONE)
Unprecedented Discovery in Hungarian Archaeology
The discovery challenges decades of archaeological interpretation in Hungarian scholarship, where weapon equipment has been found predominantly in adult male burials throughout the 10th century. While single arrowheads had occasionally been discovered in female graves, these were typically interpreted as amulets rather than functional weapons. SH-63 represents the first instance of a female burial containing complete archery equipment in the region during this crucial period of Hungarian state formation.
The Hungarian Conquest period (9th-10th centuries AD) marked a transformative era when Magyar tribes, led by chieftain Árpád, settled the Carpathian Basin and established what would become the Christian Hungarian Kingdom. During this time, Hungarian mounted archers conducted feared military campaigns across Europe, with their distinctive composite bows and armor-piercing arrows becoming symbols of martial prowess.
Archaeological evidence from the period reveals sophisticated burial customs reflecting the military culture of these steppe nomads. Weapon deposits in male graves typically consisted of melee weapons such as axes, spears, and sabers, alongside archery equipment including composite bows, quivers, and specialized arrowheads designed for different combat situations.
Artifacts found in grave No. 63: 1) arrowhead; 2) bell button; 3) silver penannular hair ring; 4) a string of beads; 5) fragments of bell buttons; and 6) antler bow plate (Photos taken by Zoltán Faur and edited by Luca Kis/PLoS ONE).
Scientific Rigor Confirms Female Identity
The identification of SH-63 as female required extensive interdisciplinary analysis due to the poor preservation of the skeletal remains. Traditional anthropological methods focusing on cranial features revealed consistently feminine characteristics, including a small mastoid process, smooth frontal contour with minimal glabellar projection, absence of nuchal crest, and smooth mental eminence - all indicators pointing to female sex determination.
Genetic analysis provided additional confirmation through advanced DNA testing of samples from multiple anatomical locations. Using both the Skoglund method and the newer Rx method for sex determination, researchers achieved consistent female identification across all samples, despite challenging preservation conditions that yielded very low percentages of endogenous DNA in some specimens.
"The poor state of preservation hindered the genetic analysis, especially in the tooth and humerus samples, which contained very low percentages of endogenous DNA," noted the research team.
"Nevertheless, the petrosa sample had a sufficiently high percentage of endogenous DNA, and all three samples were consistently assigned as female by multiple analytical methods."
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The skeletal remains discovered in grave No. 63. A) Photo indicating the current state of preservation of the bones; and B) Photo of the burial No. 63 in situ. Credit: Photo A by Luca Kis, Photo B by Ibolya M Nepper, edited by Luca Kis/PLoS ONE)
Evidence of Active Lifestyle and Possible Warrior Role
While the research team exercises caution in labeling SH-63 as definitively a "warrior," bioarchaeological evidence suggests she lived an active lifestyle potentially involving regular physical training. Skeletal analysis revealed specific patterns of bone modification and joint changes concentrated in the upper right side of her body, consistent with repetitive activities associated with archery practice.
The individual displayed evidence of three major traumatic injuries to the upper limbs, likely resulting from falls onto outstretched arms or shoulders. These injuries, which never fully healed, created secondary complications including bone remodeling and the formation of unusual joint surfaces. Such trauma patterns are consistent with individuals engaged in physically demanding activities.
Ancient Warrior Wooden Box, from the Ancient Origins Store.
Additional evidence includes signs of osteoporosis, a condition more common in older females that would have made late-life physical activity increasingly difficult. The presence of this condition, combined with the trauma patterns, suggests SH-63 may have been an older individual who had engaged in strenuous activities earlier in life.
"Various joint and entheseal changes were observed, most prominently in the upper right-hand side of the body," the researchers noted. "Similar changes have been found in other graves containing weapons and/or horse-riding equipment, suggesting these individuals were likely engaged in similar daily activities."
Broader Implications for Medieval Gender Studies
The discovery of SH-63 contributes to a growing body of evidence challenging traditional gender assumptions in medieval warfare and social organization. While female warrior burials remain rare across Europe, recent archaeological discoveries have documented women with weapons from various periods, including Viking Age Scandinavia, Scythian territories, and early medieval Slavic regions.
The cautious approach taken by the research team reflects current scholarly consensus that weapon presence alone does not automatically indicate warrior status. Social, economic, and religious factors could all influence burial practices, and distinguishing between ceremonial, symbolic, and functional weapon use requires comprehensive analysis.
The Hungarian Conquest period represents a particularly significant context for this discovery, as it coincided with the formation of the medieval Hungarian state and the integration of steppe nomadic traditions with settled agricultural communities. The unique burial practices of this era, including the prominence of horse-related grave goods and archery equipment, reflect the military culture of the Magyar tribes.
"Further investigations, including comparative analyses with other graves in the cemetery, may help clarify these questions," stated Dr. Tihanyi. "What we can say is that everyday life among Hungarians in the 10th century AD was likely far more complex than we previously imagined. The unique combination of features in the burial of SH-63 highlights this complexity."
The research represents a landmark achievement in Hungarian medieval archaeology and demonstrates the importance of applying rigorous scientific methods to questions of ancient gender roles and social organization in the Carpathian Basin.
Top image: Illustration of the burial based on archaeological, anthropological, and archaeogenetic data. Source: B. Tihanyi et al./ PLoS ONE
By Gary Manners
References
Tihanyi, B. et al. 2024. 'But no living man am I': Bioarchaeological evaluation of the first-known female burial with weapon from the 10th-century-CE Carpathian Basin. PLOS ONE. Available at: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0313963
University of Szeged. 2025. First medieval female burial with weapons discovered in Hungary. Phys.org. Available at: https://phys.org/news/2025-01-medieval-female-burial-weapons-hungary.html
Varga, G. et al. 2024. Interdisciplinary analysis of SH-63 burial assemblage. Archaeological Reports Hungary. Available at: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0313963
