WARRIOR WOMEN
A team of American and Russian archaeologists announced the findings that
they recorded during the lengthy excavation of a series of ancient tombs that date
back to the 6th century BC, which were discovered along the westernmost border of
Kazakhstan. Most surprising among the findings were the contents found within the
tombs of females. The women had been buried along with swords, daggers, bows
and arrows, leading many of the archaeologists to the preliminary conclusion that at
least some of the female members of the Sauromatian and Sarmation nomadic
tribes, to which the tombs had been traced, served as warriors. One of the most
provocative graves was that of a bowlegged young woman who had been buried
with a dagger and a quiver containing 40 bronze-tipped arrows. The woman's bowed
legs, combined with the armaments at her side, seemed to indicate that she was
trained both in horseback riding and archery and was perhaps skilled in the practice
of mounted warfare. Some observers suggested that the women warriors bore some
relation to the mythical Amazons, powerful female warriors of whom the Greek
historian Herodotus had written. Archaeologists involved with the excavation stated
that any connection between the entombed women and the legendary Amazons was
largely speculative.
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