Female warriors' tomb suggests basis for Amazons of Greek mythology


USA TODAY•January 2, 2020

The Amazons, a mythical race of female warriors that inspired fictional heroes such as Wonder Woman and Xena the Warrior Princess, may have been more than ancient Greek lore.

The Institute of Archaeology at the Russian Academy of Sciences announced the discovery of a tomb where four women were buried alongside a slew of battle weapons about 2,500 years ago. The findings were published by the Akson Russian Science Communication Association last Wednesday.

The Scythian women represented three generations of female warriors. The eldest was buried with a ceremonial headdress consistent with Amazon myths.

Valerii Guliaev led the archaeological expedition at a burial ground in the Russian village of Devitsa. She said in a news release that other Amazons have been discovered, but this is the first time the women ranged so widely in age.

The youngest was a girl researchers estimated was 12 or 13. Two women were 20 to 29 and 25 to 35 years old. The eldest woman was 45 to 50 years old. The average life expectancy for a woman during that time was 30 to 35 years.

The cemetery consisted of 19 mounds, which researchers said were broken into by robbers during ancient times. Archaeologists found 30 iron arrowheads, an iron hook, fragments of horse harness, iron knives and jewelry that was 65% to 70% gold.

The burial ground was found in 2000, and work for the expedition has been ongoing since 2010. Since then, researchers have discovered about 11 burials of young armed women.

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