Using the surviving evidence of conflict and battle - fortifications, weapons and armour, burials and human remains - this study offers an insight into war and society in Europe during the Bronze Age. The authors seek to understand the role played by aggression and war the prehistoric world. Aiming for a balanced view of warfare, by looking at the range of significant evidence from across Europe, they interpret the wealth of archaeological material to investigate how sites were defended, what weapons were used, how they were used, where fighting took place, what types of injuries were sustained, how warriors were treated in death, how warfare was represented, and what role it played in ancient European societies. The text reviews the research in the field and describes the sometimes controversial interpretations that have led to rapid advances in our understanding of society and conflict in the ancient world.