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.

Human Sacrifice in Ancient Greece - 1st Edition - Dennis D. Hughes - R

Did the Aztecs perform human sacrifices? - Quora

Exclusive: Ancient Mass Child Sacrifice in Peru May Be World's Largest

Sinister Secret of the Shang Dynasty: Its Penchant for Human Sacrifice

Examining heart extractions in ancient Mesoam

Human sacrifice played a key role in shaping ancient societies

Human Sacrifice and the Digital Business Model - Tablet Magazine

Ancient Cultures That Practiced Human Sacrifice, by The Mystery Writer

Evidence of child sacrifice found in ancient Turkish cemetery

Baalbek Temple and Human Sacrifice worship to Baal - Ancient History

Aztec Sacrifice - Echoes in the Modern World

Human sacrifice - Wikipedia