The hunter-gatherers in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile did not live in perfect harmony, according to new research published today.
Instead, they were immersed in millennia-old endemic violence, which was a consistent part of life in these ancient societies.
Using a three-pronged approach, which explored bioarchaeology, geomorphology, and socio-cultural context such as rock art, weapons, and settlement patterns, a team led by Vivien Standen of the University of Tarapacá, Chile, revealed the violent reality faced by these ancient humans.
Messages of combat in rock art from the Formative Period (a-c) and Late Intermediate Period (d-i).
Image credit: Standen et al., 2023, PLOS ONE, CC-BY 4.0
While rates of brutality remained unchanged over time, the type of violence varied.
There was an increase in lethal violence during the formative period and non-lethal violence
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