Ritual human sacrifice promoted and sustained the evolution of stratified societies

Nature • Vol/Iss. 532(7598) • Nature Publishing Group • • Published In • Pages: 228-231 •
By Watts, Joseph, Sheehan, Oliver, Atkinson, Quentin D., Bulbulia, Joseph, Gray, Russell D.

Abstract

The social control hypothesis suggests that ritual human sacrifice may have played an important role in the evolution of social stratification, functioning to legitimize class-based power distinctions by pairing displays of ultimate authority with supernatural justifications. Authors test this hypothesis about human sacrifice with a phylogenetic analysis of 93 Austronesian cultures.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
OtherResearcher's OwnPeriodicals, books, encyclopedias.
Pulotu databaseOther researchers

Hypotheses (6)

HypothesisSupported
Human sacrifice can co-evolve with social stratification (the probability of change in social stratification and the presence/absence of human sacrifice are interdependent) [First Analysis] (229).Supported
When human sacrifice is present, moderate and highly stratified cultures are less likely to decrease in degree of stratification (229).Supported
When human sacrifice is present, egalitarian cultures are more likely to gain social stratification (229).Not Supported
Human sacrifice can co-evolve with social stratification (the probability of change in social stratification and the presence/absence of human sacrifice are interdependent) [Second Analysis] (229).Supported
When human sacrifice is present, egalitarian and moderately stratified societies are more likely to become highly stratified.Supported
When human sacrifice is present, highly stratified societies are less likely to become less stratified (229).Not Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: erik.ringen