Organized violence in Anatolia: A retrospective research on the injuries from the Neolithic to Early Bronze Age

The question of the presence of organized violence in the Neolithic settlements in Middle East has been debated. This paper presents possible examples of organized violence from the Neolithic period, representing early examples of settlements in Anatolia, to the Early Bronze Age, which provides the early instances of central authority. Most injuries detected among Neolithic populations in Anatolia have been associated with daily activities. Although individual examples of interpersonal violence exist among Neolithic and Chalcolithic populations in Anatolia, but they are far from representing organized violence. On the other hand the Early Bronze Age populations present clear evidence of perimortem wounds, mass burials, high frequency of cranial fractures, walls surrounding cities, and metal weapons in Anatolia. This suggests an increased evidence of organized violence in EBA Anatolia. Based on bioarchaeological data, it is concluded that violence in these settlements resulted from one or more ecological and social factors. However, each settlement might have peculiar reason for fighting.

► We have examined the organized violence in Anatolia from the Early Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. ► There is non-suspicious sign of organized violence in the first settled populations in Anatolia. ► Clear evidences have been found in Early Bronze Age groups offering examples of early centralized authority in Anatolia. ► There is a close connection between increased organized violence and the metal weapons and development of fortification systems. ► There is an established relationship between societal–environmental-stress, and organized violence.