All of the chapters advance our knowledge of the causes, extent, and consequences of indigenous violence-including ritualized violence-in Latin America. Each major historical/cultural group in Latin America is addressed by at least one contributor. Incorporating the results of dozens of years of research, this volume documents evidence of warfare, violent conflict, and human sacrifice from the fifteenth century to the twentieth, including incidents that occurred before European contact. Together the chapters present a convincing argument that warfare and ritual violence have been woven into the fabric of life in Latin America since remote antiquity.
For the first time, expert subject-area work on indigenous violence-archaeological, osteological, ethnographic, historical, and forensic-has been assembled in one volume. Much of this work has heretofore been dispersed across various countries and languages. With its collection into one English-language volume, all future writers-regardless of their discipline or point of view-will have a source to consult for further research.
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