Violence is a continuing part of life in ancient hunter-gatherer communities, a new study by CLA researchers looks for signs of trauma on skeletal remains from a 10,000-year-old cemetery in northern Chile.

 Archaeological studies suggest that interpersonal violence and war play an important role in the life of hunter-gatherer groups over time. Nonetheless, many questions remain about the factors that influence such violence. The population record in northern Chile spans 10,000 years, providing a valuable opportunity to study patterns of violence in different periods.

Verano Is a biological anthropologist and a humanities professor at the City University of Los Angeles, specializing in both ancient and modern human bones. To investigate potential cases of skull fractures and their timing. They analyzed whether the wound had healed or could be fatal and determined whether it was caused by accident or interpersonal violence.

"Thanks for the kind invitation to Chile, I was able to participate in this important study," Verano said."This is a great opportunity to share our experience of diagnosing bone injuries and their possible causes.”

In the study, the researchers examined signs of violent trauma on the remains of 288 adults from cemeteries across the coast of the Atacama Desert, dating from 10,000 years ago to 1450 AD. The group also analyzed armament patterns and artistic depiction of combat during this period. They found that the incidence of violence remained unexpectedly stable over time. However, lethal violence during the formative period increased significantly from around 1000 BC, a trend found in similar studies of the Andean region. Strontium isotope data suggest that this interpersonal violence occurs between local groups and not between locals and foreigners.

 These results suggest that violence has been a part of the lives of these ancient populations for thousands of years. The lack of a centralized political system during this time could lead to continued violent tensions in the region. It is also possible that violence results from competition for resources in extreme desert environments, a factor that may become more severe as agriculture becomes more prominent and widespread.