An experimental approach to the study of interpersonal violence in Northeastern Patagonia (Argentina), during the late Holocene

摘要

This paper incorporates an experimental approach to the study of violence patterns in NortheasternPatagonia (Argentina) during the late Holocene. The underlying hypothesis considers a close associationbetween socio-ecologic alterations during the Medieval Climatic Anomaly (MCA) (ca. 1150e600 years BP;Stine, 1994, 2000) and a probable increase in conflict levels. In order to test this hypothesis, human skulls(n ? 986) were analyzed for bone lesions, discriminating late bone lesions, such as those produced bymetal tools. The experimental approach used swine (Sus scrofa domestica) skulls, as proxies for humanskulls, and incorporated original sabers. From this discriminating analysis, it can be inferred that nosignificant increase in violence signs were recorded until the first stages of Hispanic-indigenous contact(first half of 17th century). These findings emphasize the need for a revision of the implications of thedynamics of human populations in Northeastern Patagonia during the late Holocene.