When I first thought about doing an article on shrunken  heads, I thought I would be using the word barbaric, but after doing some research, I’ve changed my mind.

What is a Shrunken Head?

Years ago in my teenage years, not only was I fascinated with Hammer Horror and vampires, I was fascinated with a shrunken head that caught my attention in the local museum here in Warrington, Cheshire.  Next to this head was a small card and all I can remember was something about using hot sand.  OMG, I thought, they’re real!  I’ve found the actual shrunken head from the museum in the video below.

Talking Objects (4) The Shrunken Head from Warrington Museum & Art Gallery on Vimeo.

Headhunted

Ever wonder were the term headhunted came from?

These shrunken heads are referred to as tsantsa and the Shuar tribe have achieved notoriety through their customary practice of head-shrinking.  The Shuar tribe are a sub tribe of the Jivaro Indians who live deep in the Ecuadorian and neighbouring Peruvian Amazon.

Purpose of Shrunken Heads

This is what I find really fascinating.

The preparation of the tsantsa is to paralyse the spirit of the enemy attached to the head.  Often, after a battle or murder, the victims spirit or soul has to be stopped from entering the afterlife and harming other spirits from the killers family or avenging his/her own death.  The tsantsa is also considered a trophy and the conquering of a victims soul is used as an instrument of increasing the warriors own personal power known as arutam.

Preparation of Shrunken Heads

Immediately after the killing, the victims head was decapitated although it has been said that some victims had their heads cut off while alive and the entire process to create a tsantsa could take a week.

• A slit is made in the back of the victims neck and back of the head.
• The skin is then carefully peeled away from the skull.
• Eyes are sewn shut with fine native fiber.
• The lips are closed and skewered with little wooden pegs, which are later removed and replaced with dangling strings.
• The eyes and lips are sealed to prevent the victims soul/spirit from escaping.
• The skin is simmered for up to two hours maximum as any longer the hair would fall out.  At this stage the skin is dark and rubbery and the head is a 1/3 of its original size.
• The skin is turned inside out and excess flesh is scraped away.
• The skin is turned right side and the back of the head is sewn together.
• Hot stones are dropped into the head one by one to further shrink the head.
• Hot sand is used to fill the head including any crevices.
• Hot stones used to seal and shape the features of the head.
• Surplus hair is singed off.
• Finished head hung over a fire to harden and blacken.
• A heated machete is applied to the lips to dry them.
• Three chonta are put through the lips and are then lashed together with string.

Reference: http://www.head-hunter.com

Popularity of Shrunken Heads

Shrunken heads were popular with the late Victorians and were seen as collectibles.  To this day there is still a fascination with them.  The States have banned all imports and that’s good as I’ve read that tribes in order to satisfy demand have been grave robbing and causing fights in order to satisfy demand.  That’s not good at all!  In the late 50’s till the early 70’s, realistic rubber shrunken heads were very popular with people in Southern California as almost every other car had a shrunken head hanging from its rear view mirror.  The craze eventually became a national one and the craze is back.  (http://www.shrunkenheads.com/shrunken_head_story.asp)

Realistic Looking Shrunken Heads

While researching for this article, I came across a British artist named Dan Stox who specialises in creating realistic shrunken heads.  Check out his website as you can get customised heads at affordable prices. www.shrunken-head.com

Dan, when and where did you first see a shrunken head and what were your thoughts?

My first encounter with a shrunken head was in my high school library. I spent many hours in the natural history and history sections there and recall reading a short story on the tribes of South America. The images were odd to me but the most bizarre inspiring concept I had ever seen. I wanted one.  I guess your first reaction is, who? then why? then when? Then I wanted one on my keyring!

Do you or would you own a real shrunken head?

Its a great question and really touches on the nature of the person you are to answer this question.

I would love to own a genuine historical tsantsa but would hate the thought of owning a black-market morgue head (modern day man hunted for his head).  I have never owned one or handled one, but I have contacts who sell them.

I’ve read online in an article that it’s suspected that 80% of shrunken heads in museums are fake.  What are your thoughts on this?  [Read here]

I find it hard to believe 80% are fake in todays world. Yes there are more collectors than ever and more museums than ever but this would be insane.

The heads in todays museums would hold DNA and therefore there origins traceable to genetic mapping. It would not take alot to identify the origins of a shrunken head from a hair sample. It was only the South American Amazonian tribesmen who practised the art of head shrinking so these heads would have to fit the DNA of the people in that area. Tribes did not move from the jungle as it offered everything they needed in abundance.

If what you are saying is true then maybe these museums are actually exhibiting dead human remains without consent from the individual to do so.  This would also be evidence to the way they died and when. ‘How many people go missing in the USA each year?’ at £8000 / $15000 USD a pop who’s asking.

Theres an article about this on my website: www.shrunken-head.com/history

What inspired you to start creating shrunken heads?

My inspiration would be my sick little head! No really I’m a collector of curiosity and the bizarre and I was paying good money for some of my collectables.  I thought I could make better with my own hands and so begun on a journey of self testing my abilities, the ideas were there in my head but realising them was the fun part as I am naturally creative.

I note from your website that you do custom requests.  What is the most memorable request you’ve had?

The most memorable request would have to be from a guy called Dave in France 2011.  He asked if I would swap my washing machine for a Mummified Cat !! lol!  We had the washing machine for sale on a local forum and he gave me a call asked a few questions about what I do etc.  and came right out with it!!  Of course I said ‘yes’ I had dragged that washing machine around for 7 years and I hate cats!!

Where can my readers find out more about you and your work and are you on social networking sites like Twitter?

Yes the website is the best way to get me through the contact page, there’s more info about me and my history on there. I have it linked to Facebook and am on there as Dan Stox if you want to hook up! I also have a new website launched Jan 2012 (last week) www.deadstuff.co.uk where you can find some fun novelty taxidermy items, which are my brain child yet again, there great gifts. The websites are linked!!

Have fun folks but don’t go Amazon trekking without a friend you are not that keen on…………..