Female warriors discovered in Cambodia: 20-11-2007
Archaeologists have uncovered female skeletons that may indicate the existence of female warriors.
Buried with swords in ruins in Cambodia, the archaeologists believe that a civilisation of female warriors may have existed.
A total of 35 humans skeletons were unearthed at five different locations in Phum Snay in northwestern Cambodia.
Yoshinori Yasuda, a Japanese researcher who led the team, said: "Five of them were perfect skeletons and we have confirmed all of them were those of females."
Steel and bronze swords were buried with helmets Mr Yasuda, who works for the International Research Centre for Japanese Studies, told AFP.
"It is very rare that swords are found with women. This suggests it was a realm where female warriors were playing an active role."
Visitors to Cambodia with an interest in archaeology should visit the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide in Phenom Penh, and the infamous Killing Fields, where large numbers of people were buried by the Khmer Rouge regime.
It is thought that 1.7 to 2.3 million died in the massacres but now one of the most famous fields, Choeung Ek, is the sight of a Buddhist memorial to remember the terror.