Traditionally, historians have studied these downturns qualitatively, by diving into the twists and turns of individual societies. In a study published Wednesday, these methods allowed Dr. Riris and his colleagues to answer a profound question: Why are some societies more resilient than others? The study, published in the journal Nature, compared 16 societies scattered across the world, in places like the Yukon and the Australian outback. The more often a society went through them, the more resilient it eventually became. “Over time, you will suffer less, essentially,” said Dr. Riris, an archaeologist at Bournemouth University in England.

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Persons: Philip Riris, Riris, ” Organizations: Bournemouth University Locations: Yukon, England