Abstract
Slaves were an integral part of many prehistoric, ancient and medieval societies. Nevertheless, they were often ignored, not only by their contemporaries but also by modern archaeologists.
The main cause of this situation was their low status and resulting low visibility in the archaeological record. Some of the few artefacts that can serve as the evidence of slavery are metal shackles.
However, those could also be used for captives, criminals, or even livestock. Similar interpretive difficulties concern other possible evidence of slaves, such as the human accompaniments in graves of socially significant individuals, iconographic depictions, or house plans.
Despite these difficulties, it would be a mistake to give up the prehistoric slavery research. This "human parasitism" not only influenced the fate of particular individuals and entire nations but it also reflects all aspects of human power: economic, political, social, psychological and ideological.