A 2,000-year-old grave on the Isles of Scilly in the UK was discovered back in 1999 but due to poor preservation, it was unclear whether the individual was male or female. A shield and a sword in a copper alloy scabbard made it clear to many that this was a man’s grave. But to muddy the waters a bit, a brooch and a bronze mirror were also found, both of which would generally be associated with a woman. Interestingly, this is the only grave in western Europe with both a mirror and sword. Though DNA extraction wasn’t previously possible, researchers were now able to test tooth enamel thanks to a new technique, and they found that this individual was almost certainly female. And if you’ve got an image in your head of a woman primping before kicking butts, the researchers actually believe the mirror was used in warfare as a way of signaling and coordinating attacks. They also note that there could have been ritualistic functions for cleansing and/or otherworldly communication, perhaps in order to ensure success in battle. According to Sarah Stark, “Although we can never know completely about the symbolism of objects found in graves, the combination of a sword and a mirror suggests this woman had high status within her community and may have played a commanding role in local warfare, organizing or leading raids on rival groups.” I recently covered the incredible discovery of the Ivory Lady, previously identified as the Ivory Man, in issue #68.