Ritual human sacrifice promoted and sustained the evolution of stratified societies

Joseph Watts (), Oliver Sheehan, Quentin D. Atkinson, Joseph Bulbulia and Russell D. Gray
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Joseph Watts: School of Psychology, University of Auckland
Oliver Sheehan: School of Psychology, University of Auckland
Quentin D. Atkinson: School of Psychology, University of Auckland
Joseph Bulbulia: School of Art History, Classics and Religious Studies, Victoria University of Wellington
Russell D. Gray: School of Psychology, University of Auckland

Nature, 2016, vol. 532, issue 7598, 228-231

Abstract: Phylogenetic methods were applied to a cross-cultural database of traditional Austronesian societies to test the link between ritual human sacrifice and the origins of social hierarchy—the presence of sacrifice in a society stabilized social stratification and promoted inherited class systems.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/nature17159

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