The Origins of War: Violence in Prehistory

by Jean Guilaine, Jean Zammit

Stretching across continents and centuries, The Origins of Violence in Prehistory provides a fascinating examination of executions, torture, ritual sacrifices, and other acts of violence committed in the prehistoric world.

Written as an accessible guide to the nature of life in prehistory and to the underpinnings of human violence. Combines symbolic interpretations of archaeological remains with a medical understanding of violent acts. Written by an eminent prehistorian and a respected medical doctor.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Social Science, Military History, Anthropology

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this book we are taught that the prehistoric (pre-Indoeuropean)man could be violent and didn't live in a peaceful paradise. We are also taught that some of the morals of today didn't apply back then - for example is cannibalism not something that necessarily was a problem for people back at the dawn of (pre-)civilisation (or later). These facts are not only presented but repeated. Over and over again. (we get it - most of us had gotten that before we picked up this book)

The actual presentation of skeletal remains and the forensic work on them is quite interesting - but it is always open for debate how much general conclusions can be drawn from the remains (the time span is huge after all, and so much just lost to us), but as case studies it works just fine.

And I find it quite interesting how the author(s) [there are actually two] point out in the beginning of the book how archaeologists change their interpretations based on how the modern world around them change. I have no doubt about that - but I wonder if the author(s) meant for us to do the same with the conclusions presented in this book since they are presented quite often as facts rather than speculations. (And why always apologize for making analogies to for example Celts, but having no qualms using 19th century Native Americans to illustrate ideas?)

[Dan Zarfati · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that portrays the ancient as it really was, violent and mysterious. Analyzing the remains of hundreds of bodies and representations in cave art and engravings, the author makes an interesting and probably very realistic portrait of our ancient past.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, though occasionally dry, read covering the origins of organized violence and war in the human species. The approach, though biocultural, falls closer to evolution and biology than to the cultural determinist model.

Because of this, it is more convincing than are the cultural determinist models of human violence.

Recommended for those attempting to make sense of organized human violence...fun for the whole family.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars