Why did early human societies practice violent human sacrifice?

Human sacrifice seems horrifying and costly. But there might be a reason so many early human societies practiced it.

Aztec Sacrifice - World History Encyclopedia

Unearthing Secrets of the History of Human Sacrifice – Brewminate: A Bold Blend of News and Ideas

Feeding the gods: Hundreds of skulls reveal massive scale of human sacrifice in Aztec capital, Science

Did the Aztecs perform human sacrifices? - Quora

Human Sacrifice: Why the Aztecs Practiced This Gory Ritual

Ritual human sacrifice promoted and sustained the evolution of stratified societies

The origins of violence

Human sacrifice - Wikipedia

Why Did the Aztecs Practice Human Sacrifice: Uncovering the Ancient Aztec Rituals - Old World Gods

Why did early human societies practice violent human sacrifice?

Eating people is wrong – but it's also widespread and sacred

Evidence of child sacrifice found in ancient Turkish cemetery