Seven skeletons belonging to an obscure native culture known as the Gallina, which occupied a small region of northwestern New Mexico around 1100 CE, have been discovered that have raised the question of genocide.

Not much is known about the Gallina culture, which suddenly vanished around 1275 CE, although several associated sites have been excavated. A 25-foot-tall circular stone tower was excavated in the 1930s, just a few miles from the newfound massacre site, that held the remains of 16 people, all of whom bore signs of gruesome deaths as did the most recent discoveries. In fact, almost all Gallina bodies ever found, of whatever age group or sex, have shown signs of being violently killed.

The consistency of the findings is what has given rise to the genocide theory, though the archaeologists admit the killings could have been internecine.

Report: National Geographic News