Prehistory Animal sacrifice

one of altars @ monte d accoddi, animal sacrifice may have occurred.

during neolithic revolution, humans began move hunter-gatherer cultures toward agriculture, leading spread of animal domestication. in theory presented in homo necans, mythologist walter burkert suggests ritual sacrifice of livestock may have developed continuation of ancient hunting rituals, livestock replaced wild game in food supply. ancient egypt @ forefront of domestication, , of earliest archeological evidence suggesting animal sacrifice comes egypt. oldest egyptian burial sites containing animal remains originate badari culture of upper egypt, flourished between 4400 , 4000 bc. sheep , goats found buried in own graves @ 1 site, while @ site gazelles found @ feet of several human burials. @ cemetery uncovered @ hierakonpolis , dated 3000 bc, remains of wider variety of animals found, including non-domestic species such baboons , hippopotami, may have been sacrificed in honor of powerful former citizens or buried near former owners. according herodotus, later dynastic egyptian animal sacrifice became restricted livestock - sheep, cattle, swine , geese - sets of rituals , rules describe each type of sacrifice.

by end of copper age in 3000 bc, animal sacrifice had become common practice across many cultures, , appeared have become more restricted domestic livestock. @ gath, archeological evidence indicates canaanites imported sacrificial sheep , goats egypt rather selecting own livestock. @ monte d accoddi in sardinia, 1 of earliest known sacred centers in europe, evidence of sacrifice of sheep, cattle , swine has been uncovered excavations, , indicated ritual sacrifice may have been common across italy around 3000 bc , afterwards. @ minoan settlement of phaistos in ancient crete, excavations have revealed basins animal sacrifice dating period 2000 1700 bc.

preparation of animal sacrifice; marble, fragment of architectural relief, first quarter of 2nd century ad; rome, italy