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Cited by 19Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology StudiesArchaeological and Geological StudiesArchaeology and ancient environmental studies

Large-scale violence in Late Neolithic Western Europe based on expanded skeletal evidence from San Juan ante Portam Latinam

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Fernández-Crespo, Teresa, Ordoño, Javier, Etxeberria, Francisco, Herrasti, Lourdes, Armendariz, Ángel, Vegas, José I., Schulting, Rick J.·2023·Scientific Reports
DOI 10.1038/s41598-023-43026-9PMC PMC10622514
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Abstract

This paper explores the nature and extent of conflict in Late Neolithic Europe based on expanded skeletal evidence for violence from the San Juan ante Portam Latinam rockshelter in present-day Spain (ca. 3380–3000 cal. BC). The systematic osteological re-examination has identified 65 unhealed and 89 healed traumas—of which 77 were previously undocumented—consistent with aggression. They affect 23.1% of the 338 individuals represented. Adolescent and adult males are particularly affected (44.9% of the 107 identified), comprising 97.6% of unhealed trauma and 81.7% of healed trauma recorded in individuals whose sex could be estimated and showing higher frequencies of injuries per individual than other demographic subgroups. Results suggest that many individuals, essentially men, were exposed to violence and eventually killed in battle and raids, since warriorship is mainly restricted to this demographic in many societies. The proportion of casualties is likely to have been far greater than indicated by the 10.1% individuals exhibiting unhealed trauma, given the presence of isolated cases of unhealed postcranial trauma and of arrowheads potentially having impacted into soft tissues. This, together with skeletal indicators of poor health and the possible socioeconomic outcomes evidenced in the region, suggest wider social impacts, which may relate to a more sophisticated and formalized way of warfare than previously appreciated in the European Neolithic record.

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Authors
Fernández-Crespo, T., Ordoño, J., Etxeberria, F., Herrasti, L., Armendariz, Á., Vegas, J. I., & Schulting, R. J.
Affiliations
  • Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi (ES)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
ORCID
Venue
Scientific Reports
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2023-11-02
Volume
13
Issue
1
Pages
17103-17103
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41598-023-43026-9
PMC
PMC10622514
OpenAlex
W4388216639
Cited by
19
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 10 · 2022: 1
FWCI
18.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Hispana (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • UVaDOC UVaDOC University of Valladolid Documentary Repository (University of Valladolid) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • British Academy (NF170854)
  • European Commission (MSCA-IF-790491)
  • Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CNS2022-136080)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeological and Geological Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
Keywords
Late Neolithic, violence, war, skeletal trauma, rock shelters, sex differences in violence, arrowhead
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aggression, Europe, Humans, Male, Spain, Violence, Warfare

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