Skip to content
The Atlantic
Popular
Latest
Sections
Sections
Politics & Policy
Culture
Technology
Ideas
Science
Books
Family
Business
Global
Health
Education
Letters
The Masthead
Photo
Podcasts
The Atlantic Crossword
Video
Events
Writers
Projects
Magazine
Magazine
Current issue
All issues
Manage subscription
Give a Gift
Subscribe
More
Categories
More
Create account
Your account
Sign in
Sign out
Newsletters
The Atlantic Crossword
iOS App
Life Timeline
Events
Books
Shop
Help Center
View all
Subscribe
Subscribe
New Subscription
Gift Subscription
Search
Search
Quick Links
James Fallows
Megan Garber
David Frum
Adam Serwer
Manage subscription
Search The Atlantic
Quick Links
James Fallows
Megan Garber
David Frum
Adam Serwer
Manage subscription
Laura Spinney
Laura Spinney is a writer based in France. Her work has appeared in
The Economist
,
The Guardian
, and
New Scientist
. She is the author of
Pale Rider
.
Historical Picture Archive / Corbis / Getty
Did Human Sacrifice Help People Form Complex Societies?
The debate over how well ritual killings maintained social order
Laura Spinney
Feb 27, 2018
