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.

Why Did Early Human Societies Practice Violent Human Sacrifice?

Gory Offerings to the Gods: Human Sacrifice Throughout History

There is no such thing as 'Human Sacrifice'”

25 cultures that practiced human sacrifice

Early Europeans Practiced Human Sacrifice

Why was human sacrifice apparently such a large part of pre-Columbian American civilizations? - Quora

Gory Offerings to the Gods: Human Sacrifice Throughout History

Ancient Greek Human Sacrifice at Mountaintop Altar? - Biblical Archaeology Society

Evidence of child sacrifice found in ancient Turkish cemetery

Researchers Discover a New Reason Why Ancient Societies Practiced Human Sacrifice - Big Think

On The Edge Of A Blade: Grasping Aztec Violence and Human Sacrifice

Why Some Societies Practiced Ritual Human Sacrifice - The New York Times