<h2>Swedish Viking Age</h2>
Researchers from Stockholm University and Uppsala University uncovered new DNA evidence proving that female Viking warriors existed. The testing identified some of the remains in the iconic mid-10th century Swedish Viking Age grave in Birka as female. This is of huge value, both historically, anthropologically and socially, because it proves war was not an exclusively male practice, even at the higher ranks.
Excavated in the 1880s, the remains and artifacts from the gave include the warrior and her two glorious steeds, a sword, armor-piercing arrows, and a complete set of gaming pieces with a board. Although some of the skeletal morphology suggested that the warrior was female, the warrior&#8217;s sex was originally presumed male until <a href="https://futurism.com/scientists-can-now-extract-ancient-human-dna-from-240000-year-old-dirt/" target="_blank">cutting-edge DNA testing technology</a> provided a quick new means to solidify our scientific understanding of human history, and turn ancient Viking sagas into natural history.
To get the complete picture provided by this grave, which has served as an example of Viking warrior burials for more than a century, archaeologists, archaeogeneticists, and geneticists collaborated in <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajpa.23308/abstract?systemMessage=Wiley+Online+Library+will+be+unavailable+on+Saturday+and+Sunday+i.e+16th+and+17th+September+at+3:00+EDT+/+8:00+BST+/+12:30+IST+/+15:00+SGT+for+5+hours+and+3hours+for+essential+maintenance.+Apologies+for+any+inconvenience+caused+." target="_blank">this landmark study</a>. The team retrieved DNA from the skeleton, and it demonstrated that the warrior carried no Y chromosome and two X chromosomes. Her nomadic lifestyle was confirmed by isotope analyses, a finding that complements what historians already knew about the martial society of Northern Europe that dominated the 8th, 9th, and 10th centuries.
<figure style="width: 630px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="wp-image-100344 size-large aligncenter" src="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2017/09/viking-woman.jpg" alt="Image Credit: Uppsala University" width="630" height="350" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Image Credit: Uppsala University</figcaption></figure>
“This is the first formal and genetic confirmation of a female Viking warrior,” Uppsala University Department of Organismal Biology Professor <a href="https://phys.org/news/2017-09-genetic-proof-women-viking-warriors.html" target="_blank">Mattias Jakobsson said to </a><a href="https://phys.org/news/2017-09-genetic-proof-women-viking-warriors.html" target="_blank">Phys.org</a>.
“The gaming set indicates that she was an officer, someone who worked with tactics and strategy and could lead troops in battle. What we have studied was not a Valkyrie from the sagas but a real life military leader, that happens to have been a woman,” Stockholm University study leader Charlotte Hedenstierna-Jonson told Phys.org.
<h2>Connecting Past and Present</h2>
More than the first solidifying evidence of female viking warriors, this discovery is a prime example of the ways new technology enables us to better understand our ancestors. We can even look them in the eyes. Researchers in Cambridge used various forensic science techniques to reconstruct the face of a working class, 13th-century British man now called Context 958, and drew conclusions about his life from their findings. Scientists are also now able to extract and analyze the DNA of our ancient human ancestors from ordinary sediment, providing fresh opportunities to explore early human evolution without need of bones or fossils.
<figure style="width: 280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="wp-image-100345 size-large aligncenter" src="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2017/09/viking-grave.jpg" alt="Image Credit: Uppsala University" width="280" height="380" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Image Credit: Uppsala University</figcaption></figure>
These technological advances provide new insights into the rich history all humans share. “Written sources mention female warriors occasionally, but this is the first time that we&#8217;ve really found convincing archaeological evidence for their existence,” Uppsala University Department of Archaeology and Ancient History Professor Neil Price told Phys.org. As the techniques used in this case are applied at sites around the world, exciting new insights are sure to teach us more about the past and ourselves.

“Written sources mention female warriors occasionally, but this is the first time that we've really found convincing archaeological evidence for their existence."

New DNA evidence confirms existence of female Viking warriors

Hard Science

Archaeologists and geneticists at Upsala University in Norway have confirmed the existence of a female Viking warrior, in an unprecedented discovery.

New DNA Evidence Confirms Existence of Female Viking Warriors

“What we have studied was not a Valkyrie from the sagas but a real life military leader, that happens to have been a woman.”

Today’s technology is helping us preserve yesterday’s treasures.

Sci-Fi Visions

Today's technology is helping us preserve yesterday's treasures.

History Won’t Be Forgotten Thanks to Digital Tech

Demonstrating the potential of virtual reality (VR) outside of gaming, Australian VR archeological startup, <a href="http://www.lithodomosvr.com/project/lithodomos-vr-free-demo-app/">Lithodomos VR</a> is working to create archaeologically accurate reconstructions of the ancient world. In fact, they recently managed to raise $679,000 ($900,000 Australian dollars) to make their vision a reality.
Led by Simon Young,  Lithodomos VR is working closely with a team of archaeologists, computer modelers, and content distributors to precisely recreate historical sites.
&#8220;From the beginning, we have had only one goal: to bring the ancient world to life for everyone using virtual reality. This funding round is the next step forward [&#8230;] Our obsession over archaeological accuracy is what makes us stand out,&#8221; shares Young.
&nbsp;
<figure style="width: 768px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img src="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2017/02/Tyropoeon-Valley-768x432.png" width="768" height="380" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Tyropoeon Valley. Photo Credit: Lithodomos VR</figcaption></figure>
Combining archaeology and VR delivers a novel and immersive experience, something that could be applied across various disciplines. This technology presents enormous potential for museums, who can attract a wider and younger demographic, governments who want to promote tourism while educating about their cultural heritage, and educational institutions, where VR can be used to enhance teaching methods and engage students.
&nbsp;
<figure style="width: 930px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img src="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2017/02/Lithodomos-VR-Arene-de-Lutece-Promo-Image-2-930x620.jpg" width="930" height="380" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Arènes de Lutèce. Photo Credit: Lithodomos VR</figcaption></figure>
The company has already created a VR reconstruction of Paris’ Arènes de Lutèce, as it would have looked during the Roman era, which users can experience at home or on site with their preferred hardware. In addition, the company is planning to create a variety of museum installations.
&nbsp;
<figure style="width: 800px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img src="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2017/02/Lithodomos-VR-Arene-de-Lutece-Promo-Image-1-800x533.jpg" width="800" height="380" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Photo Credit: Lithodomos VR</figcaption></figure>
While these archaeological experiences are relatively new, you may soon see VR popping up in museums and schools.

Virtuality

Museums, schools, and governments looking to improve cultural tourism could all benefit from integrating VR to make learning about history more engaging
Lithodomos VR sets itself apart by being overwhelmingly historically accurate with their VR experiences

/Archaeology

Hard Science

New DNA Evidence Confirms Existence of Female Viking Warriors

Sci-Fi Visions

History Won’t Be Forgotten Thanks to Digital Tech

Virtuality

The Ancient World Is Being Brought to Life

Load More