Final answer:
The purpose behind using human bones and skulls in rituals varied depending on the time period and culture. They could be used to worship ancestors, mourn lost loved ones, or accompany human sacrifices during funerals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose behind using human bones and skulls in rituals varied depending on the time period and culture. In some cases, they were used to preserve and worship ancestors, while in others they were powerful images used to mourn lost loved ones. For example, the plastered skulls found in Neolithic Jericho and other sites may have been venerated as relics of ancestors and objects of worship. Additionally, human sacrifices were sometimes accompanied by ritual activities, such as funerals, where the belief was that the deceased needed certain goods and people in the afterlife.