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Bioarchaeological data reveal cycles of violence in the ancient Middle East

Trends in interpersonal violence have been reconstructed using data on violence-related injuries from more than 3,500 excavated skeletons from the ancient Middle East. Documenting variations in the patterns of violence in this key historical setting broadens perspectives on the long history of conflict.

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Fig. 1: Archaeological sites and violence trends.

References

  1. Pinker, S. The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined (Penguin Books, 2011). An influential book on the decline of violence over time.

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This is a summary of: Baten, J. et al. Violence trends in the ancient Middle East between 12000 and 400 bce. Nat. Hum. Behav. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-023-01700-y (2023)

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Bioarchaeological data reveal cycles of violence in the ancient Middle East. Nat Hum Behav 7, 2060–2061 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-023-01701-x

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