Archaeology: Griffin Warrior was likely a local aristocrat
UC Classics analyzed ancient DNA to learn more about Bronze Age leader in Greece
Archaeology magazine highlighted the discovery by University of Cincinnati researchers that a Bronze Age leader was from the region he one day would come to rule.
UC Classics professor and department head Jack Davis and senior research associate Sharon Stocker contributed to an ambitious project involving experts from around the world who used ancient DNA to study the origins and movements of people across three continents surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
Led by Harvard University, the research published in three papers in the journal Science examined the ancient remains of more than 700 people who lived before or during the Bronze Age, including the Griffin Warrior, who ruled Pylos, Greece, more than 3.500 years ago.
Davis and Stocker in 2015 discovered the tomb of a Bronze Age leader they named the Griffin Warrior for the mythological griffin emblazoned on an ivory plaque. The tomb contained weapons, armor and jewelry, including a sealstone depicting mortal combat that was heralded as a Bronze Age masterpiece.
Ancient DNA supported what UC’s experts have suspected all along: the Griffin Warrior was from the region he would later rule. Davis said the new evidence refutes the suggestion that he was an invader or outsider.
“We’ve always been skeptical about that theory but weren’t able to prove it except through DNA analysis,” Davis said.
More UC Classics in the news
UC Classics' discoveries in Greece have graced the covers of news magazines such as Smithsonian.
- Science Daily: DNA analysis shows Griffin Warrior ruled his Greek homeland
- National Geographic: This 3,500-year-old tomb held the treasures of Greece's Griffin Warrior
- Greek Reporter: The Griffin Warrior, a staggering discovery from ancient Greece
- Cincinnati Enquirer: In Italy, UC students uncover ancient city
UC Classics department head Jack Davis and senior research associate Sharon Stocker, pictured here in front of the Colosseum, are helping to shape our understanding of ancient Greece. Photo/Provided
Related Stories
UC's art collection on display at the Contemporary Arts Center
January 5, 2026
University of Cincinnati leaders joined WVXU's Cincinnati Edition to talk about the university’s 200-year-old art collection, a new exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center and the release of a companion book exploring the collection’s role in education and public engagement.
UC faculty and staff among Rising Star leadership honorees
January 5, 2026
Two UC faculty and staff members are among this year's Rising Star leadership program sponsored by YWCA Greater Cincinnati. Kelli Beecher, assistant professor in the UC College of Nursing, and Brittany Bibb, assistant director of programs and operations in the UC Division of Student Affairs, are among the emerging leaders of 2026. They were featured in the publication Movers & Makers.
What's behind the mysterious rise of migraines?
January 5, 2026
Weather patterns such as extreme heat and storm conditions have been linked to migraine attacks, and research shows those environmental conditions are becoming more common. As National Geographic recently reported, one of the leading theories behind this mysterious rise is that climate change may be playing a role.