In 1968, during building work, the grave of a 1000-year-old non-binary warrior was found in Vesitorninmäki in Huttula, Finland. The remains within the grave were thought to have belonged to a female leader, as feminine clothing was on the body. However, in July of 2021, the European Journal of Archaeology challenged that idea. 

With the use of modern technology, decades later, researchers used DNA technology for testing. The body was badly damaged, but they still managed to acquire a sample. Archaeologists at first checked if there were two people buried within the grave, as the grave had the burial rituals associated with two genders. 

The grave of the non-binary warrior had many items that were considered feminine, such as beautiful jewellery and woollen clothing, “typical feminine costume.” The items that confused archaeologists were a hiltless sword and a sword buried on top of the grave, as these were rituals and items typically dedicated to masculinity.

This indicates that the person buried in the grave may have been, in modern terms, non-binary and may have been an accepted and highly respected warrior in the community.

 

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The lead of the study, Ulla Moilanen, said, “The buried individual seems to have been a highly respected member of their community. They were laid in the grave on a soft feather blanket with valuable furs and objects.” 

Researchers also found that the person had Klinefelter syndrome, which is a condition where a male has an extra X chromosome, resulting in female DNA.

The gender defying warrior challenges the notion that during the Iron Age, only masculinity was valued. This even challenges modern-day ideas of gender and the existence of non-binary identities through time. 

It is important to acknowledge discoveries such as the non-binary warrior, because it is vital to preserve queer history. If you want to learn about more non-binary and trans heroes who have impacted history, read this story.