Viking Skeleton Thought to be Male is Actually Female

Category: Science/Environment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. remains / rɪˈmeɪnz / (n) – a dead body
    Example:

    His remains were buried in a faraway town.


  2. savage / ˈsæv ɪdʒ / (n) – a person who is uncivilized or does not have a modern way of life
    Example:

    He was a savage for committing such terrible crimes.


  3. excavate / ˈɛks kəˌveɪt / (v) – to discover something by digging
    Example:

    We need to excavate the castle basement if we want to know more about it.


  4. debris / dəˈbri / (n) – broken pieces or dust from something that is broken or destroyed
    Example:

    A lot of debris fell after they destroyed the old building.


  5. degrade / dɪˈgreɪd / (v) – to reduce the quality of something
    Example:

    Exposure to sunlight can degrade food quality.


Article

Read the text below.

The remains of a powerful Viking warrior were found to be female after researchers conducted a DNA test.


Vikings were ancient traders, explorers, and warriors who lived around the year 800. They mostly occupied Northern Europe, including Sweden where the remains of the warrior were found.


To outsiders, Vikings were comparable to pirates. Both were seafarers who traded goods. Vikings were also seen as savages who occasionally attacked places for reasons like economics and warfare.


Vikings buried their dead on a boat or with horses as the dead’s means of transportation to the next world.


The Viking warrior’s remains were excavated in the 1800s and were dated to be from the mid-10th century. The grave contained the skeleton, warrior weapons and equipment, and two horses. There was also a game board, used by powerful military leaders to strategize and give orders to other warriors, on the skeleton’s lap.


Because of the weapons and equipment, researchers had assumed that the skeleton was male. However, a scientist from Stockholm University noticed the feminine cheekbones and hip bones of the skeleton. After a DNA test, it was confirmed that the skeleton was female.


Scientists have been able to conduct DNA testing on ancient debris since 2003. In fact, they have discovered that DNA can survive even after 6.8 million years. Nonetheless, the oldest DNA recorded, which was found under Greenland ice, was only around 800,000 years old.


DNA from ancient bones and artifacts is not easy to analyze. It can be contaminated by the DNA of the excavators. Furthermore, exposure to heat, water, and sunlight can degrade DNA.


 


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Where else would you like researchers to use DNA testing (e.g. ancient sites, underwater finds)? Discuss.
• Do you think that DNA tests conducted on ancient artifacts and bones are reliable? Why or why not?

Discussion B

• What female-led communities do you know of? Are there any in your country? Describe them.
• What roles did women usually have in your country’s history? Discuss.