A recent analysis of Iron Age remains has provided compelling evidence that humanity's capacity for catastrophic interpersonal conflict has remained remarkably consistent over millennia. Researchers, poring over the skeletal evidence of a mass killing in Europe, concluded that the victims, predominantly women, adolescents, and children, likely perished due to a severe breakdown in diplomatic negotiations.

“We’re seeing all the hallmarks of a truly ancient disagreement,” stated Dr. Elara Vance, lead archaeologist on the project. “There’s bone trauma, evidence of hasty burial, and an overall vibe that suggests someone really wasn’t listening to the other side. It’s almost as if they didn’t have a properly moderated town hall meeting to air their grievances.”

The study, published this week, posits that the 77 victims may have been caught in a dispute that escalated far beyond what any reasonable tribal elder would have sanctioned. “It’s a classic case of ‘we just need to talk about this,’ quickly devolving into ‘we need to hit them with rocks until they stop talking,’” added Professor Julian Thorne, a historical conflict resolution specialist. “The technology changes, but the core human impulse to escalate rather than de-escalate seems to be a constant.”

Experts are now considering whether future archaeological digs should include a dedicated 'missed opportunities for dialogue' section in their findings.