What's the origin of animal sacrifice? Why was it so ubiquitous?

aite let me explain in leymans terms

cattle worshipping was spread all over. it was thee religion.

its origins lie in ancient cattle mutilations. primitive man learned quickly the spiritual worth of cattle to ayylmao
ie ayylmao draining blood of cattle is similar to religious ritual draining of xattle

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>>1289740
people love to believe that they are less hedonistic/animalistic than what they are, so that they feel great losing a bit of wealth

>>1289756
But they almost always ate the sacrificed animal

>>1289740

you give something important to you to the gods, you demand something in return

sacrifice was a way to barter with a deity and was used all across the world as the concept is almost universal

It's just like a much more ceremonious toast. In fact, toasts probably come from libations.

>>1289740
Precious metals and cattle were the most valuable currencies in early societies. You sacrificed the former by making statues or dumping them in lakes/holes and the latter by burning them.
Luxury commodities were more frequently consumed/used by those taking part in the rituals. Alcohol is a classic example of those. Societies wealthy enough to take part in the spice trade also sacrificed incense, perfumes and oils.
Once cattle/livestock became commodities rather than currencies with the monetarization of the economy, they were more often consumed than burned.