Mass Grave Found in California Reveals Prehistoric Violence Against ‘Outsiders’

[Adsos Letter]

Western Digs: Dispatches from the Ancient American West
Posted by Blake de Pastino on September 28, 2015

An ancient mass grave, uncovered during the construction of a shopping mall outside San Francisco, contains the bodies of seven men who appear to have been victims of “mass homicide” some 1,150 years ago, scientists say.

The men — ranging in age from 18 to 40 — bore clear signs of physical trauma, including severe head wounds, broken limbs, and in some cases, the remnants of stone and obsidian weapons still among their remains.

Now, chemical analysis has revealed that the men were far from home when they were killed, up to several days’ journey from where they were born and raised.

The discovery is only the most recent example of violence among prehistoric hunter-gatherers in the region, anthropologists say. But it bears important lessons about the nature of conflict and warfare in pre-contact California.

http://westerndigs.org/mass-grave-found-in-california-reveals-prehistoric-violence-against-outsiders/

Interesting article at the link, with links to other related stories within the body of the text.

[niyad]

1. k and r for this fascinating article--and for showing me a most interesting website.

[Adsos Letter]

4. Happy to be of service.

It caught my attention because of the location of the find (we live close to the city) and the age of the find.

[stage left]

2. Very interesting.

My husband and I find ancient Americans fascinating.

[Adsos Letter]

5. As do I.

Visited some of the ruins in Arizona when I was 12. Fascinated ever since.

[BlueJazz]

3. Wonderful article. I like the way they found out that 4 of the 5 men were from different families.

[Adsos Letter]

6. Archaeology is fascinating to me.

I had a burning desire to be one after visiting the ruins in Arizona when I was about 12. My mom and dad really poured the cold water on it because in those days getting a paid job as an archaeologist was in no way assured.

It probably still isn't, but with the changes in the law that have occurred since then you can't turn a spade for a building project without an archaeological survey, and private companies now abound.

[petronius]

7. Fascinating story, albeit macabre (I have a Sting song stuck in my

head now, Something the Boy Said). Thanks for the link!

[Adsos Letter]

8. You are most welcome!

People have been killing other people since there were people, I guess.

[shraby]

9. Fascinating. I would have liked to study archaeology but never had the opportunity.(money)

[cstanleytech]

10. Wait, doesnt this kinda kill the whole peaceful native americans before the white man came viewpoint

that some people cling to?

[Nitram]

11. Stan, anyone who has studied Indian culture knows there was often violence between tribes.

The violence, however, was never genocidal, was never over "ownership" of land, and was often highly ritualized, as in the custom of "counting coup."