![Various human-shaped stelas with jewelry, weapons and tools.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/stelen-titel-300x225.jpg)
Birth of the Warriors
Stone stelas from Neolithic Europe tell of a new social class: the heavily armed warriors who were supposed to protect the property of the elites.
![Skull of a 20 to 25 year old woman with a blow injury. 3,345–3,095 BC. Germany, Saxony-Anhalt, Salzmünde.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/Schaedel-einer-20-bis-25-jaehrigen-Frau-mit-Hiebverletzung-300x291.jpg)
![Sternum of a man who was shot with a bow and arrow. In addition to the arrow injury, the skeleton shows other injuries to the skull and hip that were inflicted at the time of death. Maybe he was fighting with a person or two.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/Brustbein-eines-Mannes-der-mit-Pfeil-und-Bogen-erschossen-wurde-1-300x269.jpg)
![Male stela “Petit-Chasseur 25” with T-shaped face, patterned garment, bow and arrow. Marble. 2,500–2,200 BC. Switzerland, Canton of Valais, Sion.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/mannliche-stele-petit-chasseur-25-222x300.jpg)
![Human-shaped stela “Don Bosco 2” with arms and hands, broad belt and neck ornament with double spiral pendants. Marble. 3,000–2,500 BC. Switzerland, Canton of Valais, Sion.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/Menschenfoermige-Stele-Don-Bosco-2-222x300.jpg)
![Male stela with necklace, hatchets, daggers, battle ax and multi-row belt. Limestone. 3,000-2,500 BC. Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Arco.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/mannliche-stele-mit-halskette-beilen-dolchen-streitaxt-und-mehrreihigem-gurtel-235x300.jpg)
![Stela «Arco 2» mit drei Dolchen, Axt, Gürtel und Manteldarstellung auf der Rückseite. Marble. 3,000–2,500 BC. Italien, Trentino-Südtirol, Arco.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/stele-arco-2-mit-drei-dolchen-axt-gurtel-und-manteldarstellung-auf-der-ruckseite-232x300.jpg)
Stone stelas from Neolithic Europe tell of a new social class: the heavily armed warriors who were supposed to protect the property of the elites.