Bioarchaeology provides a body of theory, method, and data to investigate the origins and evolution of social violence in human groups going back in time for thousands of years. Case studies from different time periods and different cultures demonstrate the commonalities and differences among human groups with respect to the ways that culturally sanctioned violence is used. These richly detailed studies provide ways to examine the relationship between violence and lived experience, and between lived experience and cultural processes. The chapter authors use a variety of theoretical approaches to explain the human behaviors that maintain and perpetuate violent encounters within groups, as well as between groups. It is important to document long chronologies of human behavior because it becomes clearer how change can bring on violent responses (changes such as droughts, population pressure, resource acquisition, or status). These kinds of studies can be used to better understand how to prevent or eradicate violence in human groups today. This volume compels readers to view culturally sanctioned violence not as a necessary evil or an abhorrent behavior but as a way that human groups solve problems that they perceive they have. Ritual violence as part of ceremonies to bring people together, or male coalitions that go out and raid other groups for women and resources are examples where violence aids in solving problems within the culture. Anthropological perspectives on violence using bioarchaeological data from the past are a unique and valuable resource for those wishing to understand violence in all of its manifestations.
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