Stone Age societies embraced 'complex identities' and flexible gender roles, experts have revealed, after unearthing the skeleton of a woman who was buried like a man 7,000 years ago. Men, for example, were typically buried on their right side surrounded by polished stone tools. Hers was the only female skeleton found buried with polished stone tools. This discovery, of a female buried with 'traditionally masculine attributes', suggests society 'tolerated exceptions and was already experiencing the complexity of identities', the researchers said. Of all skeletons who were buried with polished stone tools and which had evidence of a typically–masculine kneeling pattern, nine were men and just one was a woman.

Source: Daily Mail March 04, 2026 18:58 UTC