As you may know, I'm trying to submit my first paper, one for the Theroetical Archaeology Group 2005 conference in Sheffield. Below is the abstract for my paper, which is intended for the session "The fall from grace: archaeological approaches to human inhumanity". Enjoy.
Red Right Hand: The Benefits of Inhumanity
Inhumanity is, for obvious reasons, seen in negative terms. However, this should not blind us to the fact that inhuman behaviour can be to the advantage of those willing to utilise it. Any attempt to understand inhumanity must take this into account. Following the old police maxim “who profits from the crime?”, this paper seeks to provide a comparative analysis of the use of one particular kind of inhumanity – armed violence – and the purposes which it serves. With reference to the elites of the early Mycenaean period, and to more recent groups such as those participating in organised crime, the use of armed violence as a tool for the accumulation of wealth, power and status will be demonstrated.
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