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Kevin McSpadden

The ongoing Paralympics exemplifies extraordinary human resilience, showcasing athletes with impairments, disabilities, and permanent injuries as they compete at the highest level.
This remarkable resilience has been a vital part of the human experience for thousands of years.
A study published on June 5 in the journal Archaeological Research in Asia tells the story of toughness among ancient women.
It pinpointed two case studies. One was about five women from Inner Mongolia who experienced a traumatic cranial injury, and the other, a single individual from the northern stretches of the Gobi Desert who navigated a challenging landscape despite having hip dysplasia.

“The investigation of human resilience, that is, the capacity to recover quickly from stressful conditions and situations, to even thrive, provides meaningful insights into human adaptation and strategies for coping with a myriad of challenges, including those that may be societal or environmental in nature,” the study authors wrote.
The researchers also said they wanted to focus on characters who were under-represented in dominant narratives of these mobile-pastoral societies, which typically focused on men.
Here are the stories of these women who overcame immense personal challenges and were likely “integral to the successful maintenance of the fabric of steppe society”.
Survivors of traumatic head injury
The researchers analysed five skulls from Jinggouzi in Inner Mongolia that exhibited signs of cranial trauma and, in doing so, were able to paint a picture of potential local warfare that predominantly targeted men but also posed risks to women.
While they could not disprove accidental falls, the researchers believed these people lived during a time of immense chaos. Agrarian societies in northern China struggled to survive, allowing the horse-riding cultures, such as the Jinggouzi, to migrate into the region. This displacement was chaotic, likely creating conflict.

The team said the study showed a “greater propensity for traumatic injury among women”.
“However, if this consideration is turned around to focus on the women themselves, questions relating to the propensity for survivorship merit consideration as well,” the team wrote.
These nomadic tribes tended to have traditional gender roles but they were not set in stone, and the researchers wrote that “women were certainly impacted by community violence, and may have been combatants themselves.”
“Thus, despite the lack of evidence of outright warfare in the Jinggouzi site, women of Inner Asia were at risk of raids and surprise attacks,” the team wrote.
The five women all had healed cranial injuries that were likely from deliberate attacks. The fact that the injuries had healed was important, indicating that they had displayed remarkable resilience to recover well enough to be an active member of society.
The researchers wrote that the women’s survival would have “necessitated a level of individual resilience to cope with a severe injury at a minimum, and possibly [required] care and assistance from other members of their family or community.”
Living with hip dysplasia
The second study focused on one woman discovered at Baga Gazriin Chuluu in Mongolia, who had bilateral hip dysplasia and lived during the transition into China’s Iron Age over 2,500 years ago.
The area was a natural stopping point for travellers into the southern portions of the Gobi Desert, and it features “granite rock formations situated in a rolling desert steppe environment.”
This type of environment would have been particularly painful for somebody with hip dysplasia, and this woman’s prolonged bone degeneration would have made it difficult for her legs to bear weight.
“However, this does not mean that this individual was fully immobile; indeed, the extensive bony changes at the hip joints indicate that they continued to be used for a considerable period,” the researchers wrote.
They also added that they would have been fairly mobile if the person could ride horses, even with help.

The woman’s resilience arose from enduring the pain of a long-term biological impairment that would affect her throughout her life.
“The anatomical reconstruction demonstrates continued physical activity and represents individual biological resilience and adaptation at a minimum. [It also has] broader implications of continued participation in family or community life,” wrote the authors.
The burials of the women in both studies were notably normal, suggesting that they were not marginalised due to their injuries and died as recognised members of their communities.


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Chinese history

Archaeologists reveal remarkable tales of resilience among women throughout China’s history

Archaeological findings in China have revealed fascinating insights into the lives of women from ancient times, highlighting their resilience. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Archaeological Research in Asia

Throughout China’s history, individuals facing various challenges – be it physical, societal, or environmental – have demonstrated an incredible capacity to adapt and persevere. Photo: Archaeological Research in Asia

The researchers analysed five skulls from Jinggouzi in Inner Mongolia, which exhibited signs of cranial trauma. Photo: Archaeological Research in Asia

The researchers noted that for women to survive, it would have required a significant degree of individual resilience to handle severe injuries. Photo: Archaeological Research in Asia

5,000-year tradition of healthy tooth removal offers insights into indigenous Taiwan

Traditional tooth removal, practised by ancient Austronesians in Taiwan, remains a custom to this day. Photo: SCMP composite/Archaeological Research in Asia

Illustration of regular dentition and common ablation patterns in ancient and contemporary populations in Taiwan. Black blocks indicate extracted teeth. Photo: Archaeological Research in Asia

Nanguanli East skulls with tooth ablation are indicated by arrows. Photo: Archaeological Research in Asia

This type of ablation, as indicated by the arrows, endured for nearly a millennium in the Indonesian region, beginning over three millennia ago. Photo: Archaeological Research in Asia

Ancient ‘elite’ grave may illuminate tale of the years that led to rise of Genghis Khan

The discovery of an ancient grave belonging to an “elite woman” offers valuable insights into the rise of the Mongolian Empire. Photo: SCMP composite/Archaeological Research in Asia

The grave, located within the fort of Khar Nuur, belonged to an elderly woman who seemingly lost all her teeth prior to her death. Photo: Archaeological Research in Asia

Fragments of a silver cup above. The burial lacks a stone-built surface feature, which is often a characteristic of traditional Mongol graves. Photo: Archaeological Research in Asia

When Genghis Khan rose to power, the region evolved from a remote area lacking central authority into the heartland of a vast world empire. Photo: National Palace Museum

‘So beautiful fish forget to swim’: ‘Four Beauties’ of ancient China changed nation’s history

The “Four Beauties” of ancient China represent femininity and have significantly influenced politics, art, and culture. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/Sohu

Xi Shi endured a tumultuous era in Chinese history, during which she was instrumental in the downfall of the kingdom. Photo: Handout

Wang Zhaojun declined to bribe the official painter, resulting in an unflattering portrayal that led the emperor to overlook her. Photo: Handout

Diaochan was a courtesan and entertainer for the warlord Dong Zhou (140s-192), renowned for her beauty and exceptional dancing skills. Photo: Handout

Yang Guifei was known as the “shy flower,” with poems, histories, and fables celebrating her attractive curves as particularly enchanting. Photo: Handout

From Mulan to concubine army, meet 3 formidable warrior women who changed China’s fate

Three women warriors transformed China’s fate, ruling the nation despite the constraints of patriarchal lineage traditions. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/IMDb

Mulan’s tale, centered on themes of honour, bravery, and gender roles, has deeply resonated in Chinese culture and continues to inspire various interpretations such as in movies today. Photo: Disney Enterprises

Princess Pingyang, renowned for her instrumental role in the establishment of the Tang dynasty (618-907), stands out as a remarkable figure in Chinese history. Photo: Epoch Times

Lin Siniang’s legacy continues to inspire as a symbol of female strength and resilience in the face of adversity. Photo: Baidu

Meet 3 of the richest women in Chinese history, with 1 being the wealthiest woman ever

Three of the wealthiest women in Chinese history include Empress Wu Zetian (left), the richest woman ever, Soong Ai-ling (bottom right), and Fu Hao, all notable for their wealth and influence. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Sohu/Wikipedia

 Wu Zetian is a fascinating historical figure, celebrated not only for her status as the only empress in Chinese history but also for the captivating mysteries that shroud her legacy. Photo: Getty Images

From left to right: Madam Chiang Kai-shek, Soong Ai-ling, Chiang Kai-shek, and Madam Sun Yat-sen. Photo: Getty Images

Lady Fu Hao is a pivotal figure in comprehending the Shang dynasty, the earliest known historical era in China. Photo: Sohu

News

People & Culture

Cases of cranial violence and hip dysplasia showcased how much these women had to overcome


Researchers analysed two examples of resilience among ancient women and found a propensity to survive after traumatic injury.


Archaeology and palaeontology

Women and gender