An Attempt to Reconstruct the Behaviour of Australopithecines: The Evidence for Interpersonal Violence

Abstract

The evidence for inter-personal violence in australopithecines has been reviewed critically. In most instances invalid conclusions have been drawn because ante-mortem damage to specimens has not been isolated conclusively from post-fossilisation effects. It is concluded that the question of the incidence of inter-personal violence in this group must remain an open one.