“Transgender Cave Man”? A Debated Case that Changed Archaeological Inquiry

Figure 1: Copper Period burial classified as either a "transgender" or "homosexual" individual

Archaeologists learn about people in the past through their material cultural remains that are left behind.  The nature of archaeological research requires analyzes what is often an incomplete material record, which requires consistent and precise analysis.  Typically, conclusions are not reached unless there is sufficient evidence to support them.  Patterns within the data are one means of reaching a conclusion, but when an anomaly within the data occurs this can lead to serious debate within the archaeological community.  This was definitely the case with a discovery outside of Prague in 2011.

 

In April 2011 a team of archaeologists from the Czech Archaeological Society released a statement.  In their statement they claimed to have discovered evidence of either a “homosexual” or “transgender” burial (Figure 1).  They referenced the discovery of a burial from Corded Ware culture (the 2900 and 2500BC) of the Copper Age.  The burial included one individual who was found with grave goods associated with women.  These included a jug and an egg-shaped vessel.  Previous analyses concluded that these grave goods were domestic goods interred with women. The deceased individual was also facing east, another pattern consistent with Corded Ware female burials. The researchers initially concluded that the burial was that of a woman based on these pieces of evidence.  Upon further analysis of the bones, however, a different conclusion was made.  The bones were that of a male.  Corded Ware period males are typically buried with weapons and tools and buried with their heads facing the west.  Ultimately, the opposition of the osteological conclusion of a male individual coupled with the feminine positioning and grave goods led the scholars to reach their conclusions that this individual must be either “homosexual” or “transgender”.  They entertained the notion that this individual may have been a shaman (as men did occupy that role), but the lack of rich and number of the grave goods with the burial led to a quick rejection of this possibility. They instead cited their previous discovery of a Mesolithic burial of a woman who was found with masculine grave goods as evidence to support their final conclusions about the Copper Age burial.

 

Immediately, the archaeological community entered into a frenzy about the accuracy of these conclusions.  Several dissenters came out, calling into question the precision of the osteological methods used.  Others pointed out that modern gender categories and definitions cannot be applied to other contemporary cultures, let alone past cultures.  Ultimately, the conclusions about this particular burial remain in question, but this particular case led to a greater acknowledgement and study of gender, particularly the concepts related to transgender identity categories, in the past.  So while it remains unclear who this individual was within their society this individual remains an important part of archaeological discourse as the breakthrough in better understanding the past.

 

References

Adams, W.L. "Archaeologists Find ‘Gay Caveman’ Near Prague." Time 7 April 2011. Electronic.

Everhart, A.R. "Bones without Flesh and (Trans)Gender without Bodies: Querying Desires for Trans Historicity." Hypatia (2022): 601 - 618. Print.

Geen, J. "5,000-year-old ‘transgender’ skeleton discovered." Pink News 6 April 2011. Electronic.

Peralta, E. "Researchers Dig Up 'Homosexual Or Transsexual' Caveman Near Prague." NPR 7 April 2011. Electronic.