Bloody Stone Age: war in the Neolithic

Current Archaeology ^ | April/May 2009 | unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

Then there are projectile wounds. This category is particularly unequivocal where fragments of arrowheads remain embedded in bone, although recent experimental research has revealed that it is sometimes possible to recognise such injuries even where the 'murder weapon' is no longer present. In a recent research project examining evidence of cranial trauma, Mick Wysocki, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Central Lancashire, and Rick Schulting, Lecturer in Scientific and Prehistoric Archaeology from Oxford University, produced a conservative estimate (based on the view that some examples might be misdiagnosed) that 26 out of 350 crania examined (7.4%) displayed traumatic injuries.

Skull from Rodmarton, Gloucestershire, with a linear fracture caused by a severe blow
Injury probably caused by arrowshot, in a skull recovered at Littleton Drew, Gloucestershire.
Tip of an arrowhead embedded in part of a human vertebra from Tulloch of Assery, Caithness.
Arrowheads.

[SunkenCiv]

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic ·
	Gods Graves Glyphs	I could have sworn we had a topic about this not long ago. It could be that someone FReepmailed me an URL, if so, you have my humble and heartfelt thanks. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
·Dogpile · Archaeologica · ArchaeoBlog · Archaeology · Biblical Archaeology Society · · Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · Google · · The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·

[pabianice]

But... but... early man was a shy vegetarian in harmony with his fellow man and nature...I’m so confused.

[CholeraJoe]

That first skull looks like a light saber wound. It was a long time ago...in a place far away.

[SunkenCiv]

early man was a shy vegetarian in harmony with his fellow man and nature

Sexist.

[SunkenCiv]

Jedi post this or not? Let me consult the Force...

[SunkenCiv]

forgot the ;’)

[KarlInOhio]

How did the Neanderthals say "Hold rotted fruit juice which makes Grog feel funny and watch this"?

[SunkenCiv]

;') [virtual tickertape parade for Karl]

With their mouths. /rimshot

The Neandertal Enigma
by James Shreeve

Frayer's own reading of the record reveals a number of overlooked traits that clearly and specifically link the Neandertals to the Cro-Magnons. One such trait is the shape of the opening of the nerve canal in the lower jaw, a spot where dentists often give a pain-blocking injection. In many Neandertal, the upper portion of the opening is covered by a broad bony ridge, a curious feature also carried by a significant number of Cro-Magnons. But none of the alleged 'ancestors of us all' fossils from Africa have it, and it is extremely rare in modern people outside Europe." [pp 126-127]

[Deaf Smith]

Looks a little bit like Ron Brown’s skull.

[JoeProBono]

I shot an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where

[beebuster2000]

plus ca change

[SunkenCiv]

[nicollo]

Do we agree with Hobbes, then, that the natural state of man is war?

Hereby it is manifest that during the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man. For war consisteth not in battle only, or the act of fighting, but in a tract of time, wherein the will to contend by battle is sufficiently known: and therefore the notion of time is to be considered in the nature of war, as it is in the nature of weather. For as the nature of foul weather lieth not in a shower or two of rain, but in an inclination thereto of many days together: so the nature of war consisteth not in actual fighting, but in the known disposition thereto during all the time there is no assurance to the contrary. All other time is peace.

Whatsoever therefore is consequent to a time of war, where every man is enemy to every man, the same consequent to the time wherein men live without other security than what their own strength and their own invention shall furnish them withal. In such condition there is no place for industry, because the fruit thereof is uncertain: and consequently no culture of the earth; no navigation, nor use of the commodities that may be imported by sea; no commodious building; no instruments of moving and removing such things as require much force; no knowledge of the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.

[SunkenCiv]

I don’t think I would, or at least, not exactly. I don’t think there’s any one single natural state, because we all manifest so many drives and capabilities and interests and so forth. :’) I’m more in agreement with Hobbes perhaps, than with Hegel and his dialectic model.