Oops! Ancient Bronze Age shaman long assumed to be a man was actually a woman, DNA reveals
New DNA analysis identifies the 4,000-year-old Wiltshire 'shaman' as a woman, challenging long-standing historical assumptions.
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The brief
Ancient DNA testing has identified the individual long known as the Upton Lovell shaman as a woman. Previously, the remains found at the Wiltshire site were widely assumed to be those of a male metalworker.
Coverage from The News International, La Brújula Verde, The Guardian, CNN, and Live Science emphasizes the scientific breakthrough in re-evaluating the gender of the Bronze Age figure. The reports highlight the discovery's role in shifting the historical understanding of the individual's role in society.
Future updates will clarify how this finding affects the broader archaeological interpretation of Bronze Age burial sites. It remains to be seen if further analysis of associated artifacts will adjust current theories regarding her status.
Synthesized by Newsylist from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. Updated just now.
Quick answers
What was the previous assumption about the Upton Lovell shaman?
The individual was long assumed to be a male metalworker.
How was the gender of the shaman identified?
The identification was made through ancient DNA analysis.
Where were the remains found?
The remains were discovered at a site in Wiltshire.
Coverage (5)
- Ancient DNA breakthrough solves 4,000-year mystery of Wiltshire’s Upton Lovell ‘Shaman’ The News International · 18h ago
- DNA Analysis Reveals that the “Shaman” of Stonehenge Was a Female Goldsmith from the Bronze Age La Brújula Verde · 18h ago
- Ancient DNA analysis reveals Wiltshire’s Upton Lovell Shaman was a woman The Guardian · 18h ago
- Bronze Age ‘shaman,’ previously assumed to be a male metalworker, was actually a woman CNN · 18h ago
- Oops! Ancient Bronze Age shaman long assumed to be a man was actually a woman, DNA reveals Live Science · 18h ago broke it first
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