Fans of the hit series Vikings have died and gone to Valhalla. Turns out that smoky-eyed shieldmaidens such as Lagertha (wife of the mighty Ragnar) aren't just a feminist fantasy. In fact, Norse invaders in eastern England may have included as many women as men, Tor.com reports.

Shieldmaidens are not a myth! A recent archaeological discovery has shattered the stereotype of exclusively male Viking warriors sailing out to war while their long-suffering wives wait at home with baby Vikings. (We knew it! We always knew it.) Plus, some other findings are challenging that whole "rape and pillage" thing, too.

There's a long-held belief that women are in need of saving; that fighting, warfare, plundering and the like are men's duties, not suitable for the so-called fairer sex. Yeah, well, nobody tell that to the vikings who invaded eastern England in 900 A.D.

Sep 03, 2014 02:33 PM EDT Thor apparently isn't the only Viking warrior who's allowed to be a woman. A close examination of Norse remains has revealed that a good half of the invading party that tore through Eastern England in the 800's and 900 AD was female.

A close examination of Norse remains has revealed that nearly half of the invading party that tore through Eastern England in the 800's and 900 AD was female, writes Nature World News. This comes as timely news after Marvel Comic recently announced the start of a new Thor series that will depict the Norse thunder god as a woman.

Despite the remains of three swords being recovered from the site "all three burials that could be sexed osteologically were thought to be female, including one with a sword and shield," says the study. So it seems that the Vikings may have arrived in England as marriage-minded colonists rather than thieving villains as thought before.

A imagem do guerreiro viking como arquétipo de virilidade pode, afinal, estar comprometido. Um estudo recente prova que cerca de metade dos vikings que invadiram Inglaterra eram, afinal, mulheres.