|Etruscan Tomb Slabs|
And the Spear....The following is from the article link below:
Given that, what do archaeologists make of the spear?
"The spear, most likely, was placed as a symbol of union between the two deceased," Mandolesi told Viterbo News 24 on Sept. 26.
Weingarten doesn't believe the symbol of unity explanation. Instead, she thinks the spear shows the woman's high status.
It has been discerned now that the spear does not show that this princess was a warrior, but instead it is now a symbol of the couple's unity or her high status (because the tomb's structure, location, and detailed oil wall painting isn't status enough). While, many things such as burial customs are unknown about the Etruscans how can this spear suddenly turn from warrior status to symbolic! Why can't a woman be a bad ass warrior? What can't she have been royal and a skilled princess like an Etruscan Atalanta?
First the body is misidentified, because of the luxury of the burial (because only men get nice things) and the spear. But not they are taking this misogynistic eye even further by berefting the archaeological and ancient history society's of a potential female warrior/weapon culture.
The find and mixup are discussed in detail here.