Human Sacrifice

The highly symbolic nature of sacrifice lends itself to manipulation by those carrying it out to maintain power and identity in carefully staged 'performances'. This Element examines some of the types of sacrifice and ritual killing of human beings in Bronze Age China, the Near East, Mesoamerica and Northern Europe.

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Sacrifice is not simply an expression of religious beliefs. Its highly symbolic nature lends itself to various kinds of manipulation by those carrying it out, who may use the ritual in maintaining and negotiating power and identity in carefully staged 'performances'. This Element will examine some of the many different types of sacrifice and ritual killing of human beings through history, from Bronze Age China and the Near East to Mesoamerica to Northern Europe. The focus is on the archaeology of human sacrifice, but where available, textual and iconographic sources provide valuable complements to the interpretation of the material.