Your very link suggests that the tradition likely never existed.

If it did, you would expect some archeological discovery supporting it. You can't throw old people into a hole for centuries without a cache of bones developing at the bottom.

There is, for example, ample physical evidence of Aztec human sacrifice.

Eh I would more say that the opposite is an old tradition Not made with malice in mind instead out of neccesity. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infanticide_Act_(Sweden)