Warrior burial of the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age: The phenomenon of women warriors from the Jrapi cemetery (Shirak Province, Armenia)

Study of the bone remains of two female warriors from Jrapi (Shirak Province, Armenia) burial ground (Burial 3) revealed a multiple array of traumatic lesions, which shed light on their daily activities, occupation, and warfare practice. Both women had compressive cranial lesions with the signs of healing. A bronze arrowhead once embedded in the soft tissues of the intercostal space was discovered as well as a canal in the lower epiphysis of the tibia probably left by the broken point of a bronze arrowhead. The women were likely horse riders and archers. The remains unearthed in Burial N 3 belonged to two females who seemed to live as professional warriors and were buried as individuals of rank. This tomb is the third burial discovered in Armenia that provides evidence on female warriors.

Automated summary

The study of bone remains of two female warriors in Jrapi, Armenia revealed that they were likely professional horse riders and archers buried as individuals of rank. This tomb is the third discovered in Armenia that provides evidence on female warriors.