The first non-binary person? Stone Age woman was buried like a MAN

"One older adult female burial was particularly unusual, the researchers said. Hers was the only female skeleton found buried with polished stone tools. What made her especially unique was distinct patterns on her toes that indicate a kneeling activity common in men. This discovery, of a female buried with 'traditionally masculine attributes', suggests society 'tolerated exceptions and was already experiencing the complexity of identities'."

"Men, for example, were typically buried on their right side surrounded by polished stone tools. Women, on the other hand, tended to be found lying on their left side and with shell bead belts. But several skeletons have been unearthed that don't align with expectations - and it could shed a whole new light on gender fluidity in the Neolithic."

"'The position of the body and the inclusion of grave goods appear to have been strongly influenced by the biological sex of the deceased,' the researchers wrote in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology. However, it was also here that the female individual who was buried like a man was uncovered."

Analysis of 125 skeletons from Hungarian cemeteries reveals that while most Neolithic burials followed gender-specific practices, some individuals defied these norms. Men were typically buried on their right side with polished stone tools, while women were positioned on their left side with shell bead belts. However, researchers discovered exceptions, including an older adult female buried with masculine attributes—polished stone tools and distinctive toe patterns indicating kneeling activities common among men. This unique burial suggests Stone Age societies tolerated exceptions and experienced complex identity systems. The study, conducted by French National Centre for Scientific Research, examined two cemeteries with different burial practices, revealing that while one showed no sex-based distinctions, the other demonstrated clear gender-based burial differences alongside notable exceptions.

Read at Mail Online