| Περίληψη: |
This study evaluates war's existence in a region where the Panche, a Carib-affiliated group, settled during pre-Hispanic times through a study of regional settlement patterns. Like most Carib people, the Panche were described by the Spanish in the 16th century a.d. as a warrior group. This study shows that in the absence of strong evidence, such as defensive constructions, iconography, and trauma in human skeletal remains, settlement patterns are useful tools for assessing the existence of warfare in prehistoric societies. This method is relevant for analyzing conflict in societies with small populations or those without much sociopolitical complexity, where conflict was not intense or frequent and therefore did not leave a significant archaeological signature. Archaeological indicators of warfare are discussed, and the existence of war evaluated. Some dimensions of war (e.g., social distancing, scale of society, tactics, goals, frequency, and duration) are considered, and the possible causes of war are evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
