Evidence Of 10,000 Years Of Violent Conflict Among The Hunter-Gatherer Societies In The Atacama Dese

[Judi Lynn]

Evidence Of 10,000 Years Of Violent Conflict Among The Hunter-Gatherer Societies In The Atacama Desert

October 2, 2023

Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com - Interpersonal violence was a consistent part of life in ancient hunter-gatherer communities on the Atacama Desert coast of northern Chile, according to a new study.

Archaeological research supports the notion that interpersonal violence and warfare have played an important role in the lives of hunter-gatherer groups over time, but many questions remain about the factors that influence such violence. The record of human populations in northern Chile extends across 10,000 years, providing a valuable opportunity to study patterns in violence over time.



In this study, Vivien Standen of the University of Tarapacá, Chile, and colleagues examined signs of violent trauma on the remains of 288 adult individuals from funerary sites across the Atacama Desert coast, dating from 10,000 years ago to 1450 AD.

The researchers also analyzed weaponry patterns and artistic depictions of combat during this time. They found that rates of violence were surprisingly static over time, though there was a notable increase in lethal violence during the Formative Period starting around 1000 BC, a trend also found in similar studies of the Andean region. Data from strontium isotopes indicate that this interpersonal violence was occurring between local groups, not between local and foreign populations.

More:
https://www.ancientpages.com/2023/10/02/violent-conflict-hunter-gatherer-societies-atacama-desert/

[mdelaguna]

1. Original article

PLoS ONE 18(9): e0290690. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0290690

A broad brush stroke article, IMO, generalizing overa vast time scale with a small skeletal sample. Attributes violence to non complex societal organization. Ignores, comparatively the scale of violence ancient states were capable of. 25% or fewer from each site/period with trauma. Still high, by some measure I suppose. But sample is happenstance, bones and mummies obtained in various ways over a 50 year period by various investigators.

[2naSalit]

2. Many of those figures...

Are the same as many I've seen in the Rocky Mountains.