Social Violence in the Prehispanic American Southwest

by Deborah L. Nichols (Editor)

Spontaneous acts of violence born of human emotions like anger or greed are probably universal, but social violence—violence resulting from social relationships within and between groups of people—is a much more complex issue with implications beyond archaeology. Recent research has generated multiple interpretations about the forms, intensity, and underlying causes of social violence in the ancient Southwest. Deborah L. Nichols and Patricia L. Crown have gathered nine contributions from a variety of disciplines to examine social violence in the prehispanic American Southwest. Not only offering specific case studies but also delving into theoretical aspects, this volume looks at archaeological interpretations, multidisciplinary approaches, and the implications of archaeological research for Native peoples and how they are impacted by what archaeologists say about their past. Specific chapters address the impacts of raiding and warfare, the possible origins of ritual violence, the evidence for social violence manifested in human skeletal remains, the implications of witchcraft persecution, and an examination of the reasons behind apparent anthropophagy. There is little question that social violence occurred in the American Southwest. These contributions support the need for further discussion and investigation into its causes and the broader implications for archaeology and anthropology.

CONTENTS

1. Introduction
Patricia Crown and Deborah Nichols

2. Dismembering the Imagining Cannibalism in the Ancient Pueblo World
Randall H. McGuire and Ruth Van Dyke

3. An Outbreak of Violence and Raiding in the Central Mesa Verde Region in the 12th Century AD
Brian R. Billman

4. Chaco Horrificus?
Wendy Bustard

5. Inscribed in the Body, Written in The Consequences of Social Violence at La Plata
Debra L. Martin, Nancy Akins, Bradley Crenshaw, and Pamela K. Stone

6. Veneration or A Study of Variations in Patterns of Human Bone Modification at La Quemada
Ventura R. Pérez, Ben A. Nelson, and Debra L. Martin

7. Witches, Practice, and the Context of Pueblo Cannibalism
William H. Walker

8. Explanation vs. The Discourse of Cannibalism at Awat’ovi
Peter Whiteley

9. Devouring Ourselves
George J. Armelagos

References Cited
About the Contributors
Index

288 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 2008

Reviews

[Riff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a lot of edited volumes suffers from wildly variable quality of chapters. I'd recommend chapters 2, 3, 5, & 7. Chapter 4 has some big flaws in its analysis & smacks of old school archeological hyperlocalism - it seems to believe Chaco had only a tenuous influence outside of the canyon itself & it's ideas/politics abruptly disappear entirely after the mid 1100s. "NO STATES NORTH OF MEXICO, NO STATES NORTH OF MEXICO!!," is the catechism I chant in front of my alter to Henry Lewis Morgan. 8 is interesting but messy & gets a bit off topic at times - extended section about French being unpleasant to Huguenots, in a ritualistic way. The author's claim that he doesn't like jargon near the end is especially funny given this is easily the most jargon filled & academic-ese essay of the lot. He also uses the word "mother****er" (censored because I don't know Goodreads tolerance of such wicked profanities). So brave but at least I don't think that's jargon! One chapter (6) has almost nothing to do with the Southwest, but rather ritual sacrifice at a specific site in Mexico with only very tenuous connections to the topic of the book. Interesting but no idea why this was included other than Turner's truly ridiculous Toltec fantasy in Man Corn. 1 & 9 service as unremarkable introductions & conclusions. The Mimbres bowl on the cover is, of course, required by law under penalty of being processed extremely! but the book deals very little with the Mimbres world, it's mostly about the San Juan Basin & Northern San Juan/Mesa Verde regions (not a problem). Would have been improved by an essay from more of Big-picture-ist archeologist.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very repeatative. Each chapter was written by a differnt author and they covered the same ground over and over again, mostly why Christy Turner was wrong about cannibalism in Chaco. Did get some perspective and new ideas out of it so is worth a quick read.