Capital Berg

Keeps People Up-To-Date

Friday, January 22, 2021
Log in
  • United States
  • Business
  • Health
  • Science
  • Technology
  • About CapitalBerg
    • Analysts & Contributors
    • Advertising
    • Contact US
    • Privacy Policy GDPR
    • Terms of Use

Pages

  • About CapitalBerg
  • Advertising
  • Analysts & Contributors
  • Contact US
  • Investor Relations
  • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • SEC Disclosure
  • Terms of Use

Recent Posts

  • Tennessee Rapist Breaks into Woman’s House Three Times the Same Night to Assault Her June 29, 2018
  • Mentally Ill Man Arrested After Breaking into Retirement Home to Grope a Woman’s Chest June 28, 2018
  • “Syndrome” Author Blake Leibel Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Murder and Torture of Girlfriend June 27, 2018
  • Michigan Dad to Be Sentenced in the Beating Death of 3-Year-Old Infant June 26, 2018
  • Ohio Patrolman Booted from Police After Pulling Over His Daughter and Boyfriend June 26, 2018
  • Utah Mayor Shares Heartwarming Letter of Man Apologizing for Stealing a Stop Sign 75 Years Ago June 25, 2018
  • Mississippi Man Beheaded Mother After A Spat over Credit Cards June 25, 2018

The Oldest Remains of Human Warfare

January 25, 2016 By Waleed Javed

"nataruk remains"

Researchers unearthed the oldest remains of human warfare that were dated as far back as 10,000 years ago in what is today northern Kenya’s Rift Valley. It’s an exciting bit of history that could potentially be a significant hint toward ancient human behavior. Specifically, it tells a story about the tendency for violence and war.

A team of scientists from Cambridge University searched the arid grounds around Lake Turkana in Kenya. Around 18.6 miles (30km) away from the lake, there’s a region called Nataruk, where they dug up several remains of human skeletons back in 2012. Thus, they have become known as the fossils of Nataruk, a testament to human nature and instinct for violence.

Now a scrubland, the area was believed to have once been lush and humid, with fish aplenty, game, and possibly fresh water. The lake extended much further than it does today, leaving fertile lands where the bodies were perfectly preserved after their death. The scientists uncovered 27 skeletons in total, among which there was a pregnant woman and a young child. Radio carbon dating along with other processes revealed the date of the human remains.

A 10,000 year old massacre

The humans were revealed to be around 10,000 years old, a group of hunter-gatherers that weren’t generally believed to be truly violent. In fact, the nomads were thought of as relatively peaceful people and possibly egalitarian as they travelled from land to land. However, the body count along with several traces of severe injuries pointed at a potential conflict that led to an outright massacre.

Out of the remains found, twelve skeletons were complete, and ten of them showed definite signs of a violent death. The skulls were crushed by clubs, and necks pierced by arrows and spears, which ultimately led to their positioning in the once lush area. One in particular even had a piece from an obsidian arrow stuck within its skull. It brought forth the conclusion that their deaths was the result of a conflict, possibly a war with another tribe.

Earliest sign of human warfare

The true fascinating quality of the Nataruk discovery is that experts previously believed warfare started with land ownership. That began with groups of farmers much later, willing to do anything to protect their lands. The instinct to hold tight to their belongings was naturally at work to ensure their survival. Nomadic groups, however, such as hunter-gatherers, rarely had anything of their own. They travelled, living off what resources they could find that belonged to no one during that time.

However, as lead researcher Robert Foley stated, there’s always a reason to fight. The lake was possibly an excellent location to live in, with fresh water and game. That also made it incredibly dangerous as many would fight for the location, and die for it as well. It could have been an attempt to steal their resources, even though they did not truly belong to anyone.

The bodies were littered around the region, left there to rot as opposed to being buried. That suggests conflict with another tribe and became the oldest clue to intergroup warfare between humans. They had little to fight over, yet it happened, quite possibly a lot more often than believed.

Perhaps violence is innate to humans as a species. It’s a natural way of solving conflict and a base instinct that was easily resorted to back then. Those same traits still linger in spite of evolution, but the remains added more evidence to suggest humanity has had a bloody past for much longer than previously believed.

However, as Foley underlined, what we understand from evolutionary biology is that altruism, love, and sacrifice are a part of human nature as well. They are two sides of the same coin.

Image source: theatlantic.com

Filed Under: Science Tagged With: ancient humans, evidence of human warfare, Fossils, human warfare, humans, hunter-gatherers, kenya, massacre, nataruk, prehistoric kenya, remains, war, warfare

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 44 other subscribers

Recent Articles

sleep

Tennessee Rapist Breaks into Woman’s House Three Times the Same Night to Assault Her

June 29, 2018 By Denise Ehrlich Leave a Comment

police lights

Mentally Ill Man Arrested After Breaking into Retirement Home to Grope a Woman’s Chest

June 28, 2018 By Waleed Javed Leave a Comment

gavel

“Syndrome” Author Blake Leibel Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Murder and Torture of Girlfriend

June 27, 2018 By Andreas Petersen Leave a Comment

Woods

Michigan Dad to Be Sentenced in the Beating Death of 3-Year-Old Infant

June 26, 2018 By Marlene R. Litten Leave a Comment

patrol cruiser

Ohio Patrolman Booted from Police After Pulling Over His Daughter and Boyfriend

June 26, 2018 By Waleed Javed Leave a Comment

stop sign

Utah Mayor Shares Heartwarming Letter of Man Apologizing for Stealing a Stop Sign 75 Years Ago

June 25, 2018 By June Harris Leave a Comment

Butter knives

Mississippi Man Beheaded Mother After A Spat over Credit Cards

June 25, 2018 By Carol Harper Leave a Comment

XXXTentacion mugshot

Florida Authorities Arrested Suspect in Connection with Shooting of XXXTentacion

June 22, 2018 By Waleed Javed Leave a Comment

sunset over beach

Dallas Mother Accused of Beating Four-Year-Old and Dumping Body Into the Water

June 21, 2018 By Denise Ehrlich Leave a Comment

chicken Alfredo

Ohio Man Sentenced for Trying to Seduce Teenage Boy with Naked Pictures and Chicken Alfredo

June 20, 2018 By Marlene R. Litten Leave a Comment

bedroom

South Carolina Teen and Mates End Up In Slammer for Raping a Teenage Girl

June 19, 2018 By Waleed Javed Leave a Comment

cyberstalkin

California Man Arrested for Stalking Ex-Girlfriend, Hacking Her Online Accounts

June 19, 2018 By June Harris Leave a Comment

hammer

Naked Patient Sneaks out of Emergency Room to Bash Homeowner’s Head with Hammer

June 18, 2018 By Carol Harper Leave a Comment

screwdriver

Middle School Student Attacks Teacher During Class with Screwdriver

June 18, 2018 By Andreas Petersen Leave a Comment

Categories

  • Business
  • Deals
  • Health
  • Science
  • Technology
  • United States
  • World

Copyright © 2021 capitalberg.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Contact

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more.