Violence in hunters, fishermen, and gatherers of the Chinchorro culture: Archaic societies of the Atacama Desert (10,000–4,000 cal yr BP)

Violence was a persistent and prevalent feature of the Chinchorro culture, an ancient society of hunters, fishermen, and gatherers inhabiting the Atacama Desert between 10,000 and 4,000 years ago. Contrary to expectations that violence would increase with population density or social complexity, this study found it remained constant over time, predominantly affecting males. Isotopic analysis of strontium in traumatized individuals revealed that violence was largely intra-group, occurring between members of the same coastal habitat rather than involving outsiders. These findings suggest that violent behavior was ingrained in Chinchorro sociocultural practices, likely serving as a mechanism for conflict resolution and social tension management.

Monsalve, S., Standen, V.G., Arriaza, B., Santoro, C.M., Marquet, P.A., & Coleman, D. (2020). Violence in hunters, fishermen, and gatherers of the Chinchorro culture: Archaic societies of the Atacama Desert (10,000–4,000 cal yr BP). Wiley-Liss Inc. https://doi.org/10.17615/18Z3-BW08