Human Sacrifice
Archaeological Perspectives from around the World

Examines some of the types of sacrifice and ritual killing of human beings through history.

Laerke Recht (Author)

9781108728201, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 20 December 2018

75 pages, 40 colour illus.
18 x 12.5 x 0.5 cm, 0.1 kg

'… each chapter is interesting and informative … thought-provoking … The appendix is a very useful guide to further study and the bibliography is quite extensive for such a small book.' Caroline Tully, Reading Religion

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.

1. Introduction
2. The Near East
3. Egypt
4. China
5. Northern Europe
6. Mesoamerica
7. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Worship, rites & ceremonies [HRLF], History of religion [HRAX], Egyptian archaeology / Egyptology [HDDG], Prehistoric archaeology [HDDA]