Large-scale warfare occurred in Europe '1,000 years earlier than previously thought'

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Large-scale warfare occurred in Europe ‘1,000 years earlier than previously thought’

Reanalysis of skeletal remains in Spain suggests conflicts took place about 5,000 years ago in neolithic period, say researchers

Mabel Banfield-Nwachi
Thu 2 Nov 2023 20.41 GMT
First published on Thu 2 Nov 2023 20.01 GMT

The earliest period of warfare in Europe might have occurred more than 1,000 years before what was previously thought to be the first large-scale conflict in the region, researchers have suggested.

Reanalysis of more than 300 sets of skeletal remains uncovered in Spain – radiocarbon dated to between 5,400 and 5,000 years ago – indicates that conflicts took place long before powerful states formed in the region.

The number of damaged bones and the disproportionately high percentage of males suggest the wounds resulted from a period of conflict, potentially lasting at least months, the authors of a study, published in Scientific Reports, said.

Researchers found there were substantially higher injury rates for the time, with 23% of the individuals showing evidence of skeletal injuries and 10% having unhealed injuries.

-snip-

Read more: https://archive.li/YAodb

Original Guardian link (registration required): https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/nov/02/large-scale-warfare-occurred-in-europe-1000-years-earlier-than-previously-thought

[Warpy]

1. With 90% of the injuries healing or healed

it sounds more like blood sport than an organized battle.

In the latter, a greater proportion with unhealed fractures would have been present as combatants too wounded to stagger off would have been finished off by their side or by the victors.

Blood sport would have given horrific injuries in mostly men, who tend to take more risks, the injured carried off to have their fractures set and splinted, relatively few being injured mortally. However, sometimes you get the bear and sometimes the bear gets you and bear baiting has never been considered particularly safe. Or lion, tiger, hippo aurochs, or even wild horse.

ETA: Armed conflict between armies was definitely going on during that time period, only it was in the eastern Mediterranean region. Odd how some things never seem to change.

[stopdiggin]

2. I wonder how this type (and percentage) of injury

stands in comparison to Native American populations that were engaged in periods of ongoing skirmishing with neighboring tribes/bands? (and of course not all of them were)

[Warpy]

3. As populations increased, I think it became more common

Still, the raids would have left more than 10% dead among the losers. and I don't think those who survived their wounds would have been given a chance to heal and were buried later in the same place.

Blood sport, on the other hand, would explain it perfectly.

[WhiteTara]

4. Warfare came with Homo Sapiens

we are a murderous species.