Talheim Death Pit c. 5000 BC “first signs of organized violence in Earlty Neolithic Europe” > Remains of 34 individuals found in a pit among houses - 16 children; 18 adults; (7 female)
> Traces of violence - blows from polished stone adzes “shoe-last”form → farmer tool (bandkeramik material culture) - arrow wounds from behind → killed while attempting to flee [“This throws new light on discovery of shoe-lazed adzes in graves of older males [..] they doubled as weapons of war, and were evidently male status symbols”]
------------------------------------------------ "Key discovery Talheim deathpit: First, people believed that early farmers were peaceful> violence in/between these communities was rare. Talheim=bandkeramik settlement from 5200BC. In a pit among houses> remains of 34 people found of all ages/genders with traces of violence. Absence of evidence resistance means that these people were killed while trying to escape. Most convincing interpretation= inhabitants killed by raiders from neighbouring bandkeramik settlement. Talheim evidence does reveal that polished stone adzes were not just carpentry tools> also for aggressive use, which throws a new light on graves with adzes found in them from older males> evident male status symbols associated with weapons/war. More bandkeramik sites reveal violence: Schletz, Austria> several ditches with skeletons >traces of violence from adzes+ they tried to defend themselves. Other Violence in Herxheim, Rhineland: 80 deposits>500 individuals in closed ditches. Evidence for skinning+ defleshing > probably cannibalism ceremonial in character."(Anna-Feline)
