Speaker: Dr. David J. Hay
The historical and archaeological record of women’s participation in combat remains a contested field. Controversy over the frequency of that participation seems constantly to be erupting anew, as it did for example a decade ago, when osteological and DNA analyses proved that the high-status warrior buried in the 10th century in Birka grave BJ 581 was actually female. In this talk, I show how debates about women in combat date back at least as far as antiquity, and indeed remained lively during the Middle Ages. Having established the historical context, I then consider some specific evidence of female combatants in the material culture of ancient and
medieval Europe, from female gladiators to Viking warriors to feudal countesses. I conclude that, while some cases have undoubtedly been exaggerated and/or misinterpreted, neither the participation of women in combat, nor the debate about it, are modern innovations.
Zoom Link: https://uleth.zoom.us/j/96995981308