Great points tjradcliffe. The basis for which to draw non-war status is the absence of ash, suggesting burning to the ground. That is a large leap. Applying th

Great points tjradcliffe. The basis for which to draw non-war status is the absence of ash, suggesting burning to the ground. That is a large leap. Applying this same standard, we could technically say the Egyptians never engaged in war as there are no ashen layers. Also, the Romans would be said to have engaged in war because of Nero's folly. The correct conclusion would be the simpler: The town/civilization was strong enough to avoid being sacked or designed well enough to avoid complete burning. Walls are used to reduce the success of surprise attacks, provide a fortified position to defenders, and provide a means of access regulation; if there is no war, what is their purpose. This echos what Zeto says.