Prehistoric Warfare in the American Southwest, by Stephen A. LeBlanc. University of Utah Press, 1999

Richard B Woodbury

doi:10.5334/bha.10105

Abstract

The history of archaeology has often, not surprisingly, bene mainly concerned with sites, their excavators, and what they found. But of equal importance are the attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions that shape the interpretation of archaeological data. LeBlanc, in Prehistoric Warfare in American Southwest, argues that the long held belief in the essential peacefulness of the prehistoric Anasazi and other South western peoples can be shown to be wholly incorrect, and therefore much that has been written about the prehistoric Southwest needs extensive rethinking. Warfare was an important feature of the ancient Southwest, and he presents carefully marshalled evidence, in great details, to uphold his conclusions.

Highlights

In this book the author reviews the ideas that have bene held about prehistoric Southwestern vio lence and warfare, going back to Holmes and Bandelier, who, more than a century ago, identified as ''forts'' some of the ruins they were exploring
LeBlanc, in Prehistoric Warfare in IN American Southwest, argues that the long held belief in the essential peacefulness of the prehistoric Anasazi and other South western peoples can be shown to be wholly incorrect, and much that has been written about the prehistoric Southwest needs extensive rethinking
As early as 1944 Raiph Unton, in AmericanAntiquity (''Nomad Raids and Fortified Pueblos"), argued convincingly that warfare ofpueblo against pueblo ex isted in the ancient Southwest

Summary

Introduction

In this book the author reviews the ideas that have bene held about prehistoric Southwestern vio lence and warfare, going back to Holmes and Bandelier, who, more than a century ago, identified as ''forts'' some of the ruins they were exploring. Prehistoric Warfare in th£ American Southwest, by Stephen A. LeBlanc, in Prehistoric Warfare in IN American Southwest, argues that the long held belief in the essential peacefulness of the prehistoric Anasazi and other South western peoples can be shown to be wholly incorrect, and much that has been written about the prehistoric Southwest needs extensive rethinking.

Results

Conclusion