EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POPULATION CROWDING AND INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE IN NORTHEASTERN PATAGONIA

Abstract

Recently, it has been proposed that the socioecological effects of the Medieval Climatic Anomaly (1.150-600 calendric years BP) on human populations from northeastern Patagonia (Argentina) were increasing population growth and spatial circumscription. Allegedly, such conditions tend to promote some rise in the level of confl ict and interpersonal violence within and between hunter-gatherers social groups. In order to test this hypothesis archaeologically, a sample of 100 human crania coming from several sites located on the lower courses of the Negro and Chubut rivers were analyzed. This sample was subdivided in subsamples belonging to different temporal periods, and then surveyed for evidence of traumatic lesions. The results obtained indicate that, after 1300 BP, a statistically signifi cant increase in the frequency of traumatic injuries in the sample of the Negro River occurred. However, since many of the lesions were plausibly caused by metallic weaponry it is probable that they actually represent an increase in the level of violence experienced by aboriginal populations during early historical times, and not during or immediately after the Medieval Climatic Anomaly.