Study Links Climate And Violence: Peru skeletons show low conflict; ritual sacrifice stays distinct

Ancient communities living along Peru's northern coast experienced devastating floods, food shortages and periods of mass human sacrifice, yet everyday violence remained remarkably uncommon. A new study published in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology, also reported by science platforms Phys dot org and Scimex, has found that only a small fraction of people living in the Lambayeque Valley showed physical evidence of interpersonal violence over more than 3,000 years.

The findings offer a different perspective on how human societies respond to environmental disasters, suggesting that climate-related hardship does not necessarily lead to widespread conflict. The research, titled Pax Lambayeque?

Trauma, Interpersonal Violence, and Environment over 3,000 Years in the Lambayeque Valley Complex, Peru, was conducted by researchers Thomas J Snyder of New York University and Haagen D Klaus of George Mason University.