Presents major new research in a series of case studies which combine archaeological and bioarchaeological data with analysis of ancient imagery and theoretical approaches to examine evidence for gendered violence in the past.

Preface Uroš Matić and Bo Jensen   1. Introduction: Why do we need archaeologies of gender and violence, and why now? Bo Jensen and Uroš Matić   2.  Revisiting the myth of matriarchy”, rethinking determinism, seeing anew   Stephanie Koerner   3. The honoured and the sacrificed? Gender and violence at a sanctuary of the late 3rd millennium BC in Central Germany André Spatzier, with anthropological analyses by Marcus Stecher and Kurt W. Alt   4. The role of violence in the construction of prehistoric masculinities Lisbeth Skogstrand   5. “Her striking but cold beauty”: Gender and violence in depictions of Queen Nefertiti smiting the enemies Uroš Matić   6. Les demoiselles d’Entremont: Violence, gender and headhunting in Iron Age Europe Ian Armit   7. Violence against women in Graeco-Roman Egypt: the contribution of Demotic documents Christine Hue-Arcé   8. Death and the maiden: Late antique images of nubile females as agents and victims of lethal violence Susanne Moraw   9. Heaven for me, hell for the “others”: An agenda on sex and body from Sasanid Persia Maryam Dezhamkhooy and Leila Papoli Yazdi   10. Skull-cups and snake-pits: Men’s revenge and women’s revenge in Viking Age Scandinavia Bo Jensen   11. The weapons make the man? A re-analysis of Early Anglo-Saxon weapon burial and interpretation Laura M. Whitehouse   12. Gender and structural violence in Prehistoric Peru Julie Farnum   13. Gender and violence in archaeology: Final commentary Louise Hitchcock