"...He [Graeber] shows lots of archaeological evidence suggesting that "primitive" pre-historic societies were probably not that simplistic in terms of social r

"...He [Graeber] shows lots of archaeological evidence suggesting that "primitive" pre-historic societies were probably not that simplistic in terms of social relationships, and some were most likely not egalitarian, since, for instance they would present different displays of wealth in how different people were buried." No doubt that's likely very true (as archeological evidence now suggests it is). However, it seems to me that Rousseau took his more simplistic view as a hypothetical starting point to argue his main one - that of the Social Contract. He probably reached a larger audience with his small book than grinding it fine by including unnecessary details - just guesswork on his part - about archeological prehistory, of which hardly anything was known in the 1760s. As it was, Rousseau was influential as witnessed by events in 1789. Some would even argue that he was too influential.