Oops! Ancient Bronze Age shaman long assumed to be a man was actually a woman, DNA reveals

Recent DNA testing has fundamentally altered the understanding of a prehistoric individual known as the Upton Lovell Shaman. Found in Wiltshire, this Bronze Age person was previously assumed by researchers to be a man. However, new genetic evidence confirms the individual was actually a woman. The discovery settles a mystery regarding the identity of this figure who lived approximately 4,000 years ago, shifting the historical narrative surrounding the person's social and professional status within their community. Major media outlets including The Guardian, CNN, and Live Science have highlighted the correction of this long-standing gender assumption.

Coverage from The News International describes the DNA findings as a breakthrough that solves a millennia-old mystery in Wiltshire. Additionally, reports from La Brújula Verde and Межа. Новини України emphasize the specific professional nature of the individual's work, noting that the woman was not only a shaman but likely a metallurgist or a goldsmith during the Bronze Age. This discovery is significant because it challenges previous assumptions regarding the division of labor and spiritual leadership in ancient societies. For a long time, the individual was identified as a male metalworker. The evidence that a woman held these roles suggests that women in the Bronze Age may have possessed technical skills in metallurgy and held high-status positions as shamans.

This context re-evaluates the gender dynamics of the period and the specific roles women played in early craftsmanship and ritual leadership. Future attention will likely focus on the implications of this genetic evidence for other Bronze Age sites. Since the Upton Lovell Shaman has been reclassified as a female goldsmith and metallurgist, the discovery provides a new baseline for analyzing similar burials. Observers will watch for further DNA breakthroughs that might reveal other instances of women occupying specialized technical or spiritual roles in the Wiltshire region or broader prehistoric contexts, as the current coverage establishes a precedent for correcting historical gender biases.