The Truth About The Shrunken Human Head Used In A Movie

An authentic Amazonian shrunken head has been on display in Georgia for decades, and now it is going back home to Ecuador. Per NBC News, the head is from an enemy slain by an Amazon warrior and has been on display at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, since 1942, when biologist Jim Harrison acquired it during a trip to Ecuador while serving during World War II.

It took Mercer researchers years to authenticate the human head using CT scans to reconstruct a 3D model. Before it could be authenticated, it was used as a prop in John Huston’s 1979 black comedy “Wise Blood,” an adaption of Flannery O’Connor’s first novel.

The shrunken head, or tsantsa in Amazonian, is specially prepared for trade, trophy, and ritualistic purposes and is used in the northwestern region of the Amazon forest by the Jivaroan tribes of Ecuador and Peru tribes which include Haumbisa, Aguaruna, Shuar, Achuar, peoples.

'This is somebody's culture, and it's not ours'

South American tsantsas on display in Russia

Shutterstock

The process includes removing the skull and flesh, then stitching the mouth and eyes shut, boiling it, and filling the head with stones and hot sand.

Mercer University repatriated the head to the Ecuadorian consulate in Atlanta in 2019, hoping to properly preserve it and ultimately make it part of a collection. Mercer University chemist Adam Kiefer, who is co-author of a study published in the Journal of Heritage Science, said, “This is not an oddity — this is somebody’s body, this is somebody’s culture, and it’s not ours. So from our perspective, repatriation was essential, and we were very lucky that our university supported this endeavor.”

In the 19th century, shrunken heads were popular knickknacks and fakes were plentiful. In order to meet the demand, some went as far as to create them from bodies taken from morgues and cemeteries (via The Collector). The genuine artifacts, however, deserve to be treated with respect, not as souvenirs.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

The Untold Truth Of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Billy Powell

The southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd is most famous for their catchy (and sometimes controversial,

Entertainment,History / 2021-10

The Mythology Of Hela Explained

In Norse mythology, Hela (also called Hel) ruled one of the realms of the dead, known as Helheim or

Facts,History / 2021-10

We Could Have Avoided The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Here's How

In early October 2021, an oil rig off the California coast did what oil rigs tend to do: it

History / 2021-10

Mysteries Of The Ocean You've Never Heard Of

The ocean is vast and endlessly fascinating, particularly since there are so many mysteries

Facts,Weird / 2021-08

The Bizarre True Story Of The Flatwoods Monster

The country roads of West Virginia are, at least so go the stories, notoriously full of monsters

History,Weird / 2021-07

The Bizarre Story Of The Crown Jewels Robbery

It is likely that there have been more jewel heists portrayed on film than have actually occurred

History / 2021-07

Bizarre Details About Roswell That Still Don't Make Sense

An alien spacecraft did not crash-land in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. It's not that something

History,Weird / 2021-06

Did Dorothea Puente Ever Confess To Her Murders?

At first glance, no one would ever think that a meek-looking grandmother like Dorothea Puente would

Facts / 2021-06

What Really Happens When A Presidential Pet Dies

In the 232 years that the United States of America has been governed by presidents, a not

History / 2021-05

These Are The Longest Living British Royals Ever

When Prince Philip died on April 9, just shy of his 100th birthday, he was the third longest-lived

Facts / 2021-04

Why Sir Alfred Was Stuck In An Airport For 18 Years

Anyone who's traveled can tell you about the pain of a long layover. Sometimes canceled or delayed

Green Screen Photos Show Us How Hollywood Really Works

Movies have the power to inspire us. Thanks to the advancement of technology, the introduction of

The Oldest Basilica Of The Western World

Basilicas are one of the most grandiose tourist attractions in Rome. The magnificent architecture

This President Had The First-Ever Photographed Inauguration

Today, the Chief Official White House Photographer is a senior position in the White House, one

The Dark Truth About The LuLaRoe Marketing Cult

In the not so distant past, it seemed like just about every other friend on Facebook was pitching a

Here's What Might've Happened If MLK Survived His Assassination

The 1960s was a decade of assassinations, says History. A lot of prominent political leaders and

The Dark Origins Of The Jack And Jill Nursery Rhyme

We all probably know about Jack and Jill's ill-fated trip up the hill to fetch a pail of water.

Inside The Tragic Death Of Race Car Driver Gordon Smiley

Throughout the years, the sport of auto racing has seen plenty of accidents and fatalities. It's

The Sad Truth About What Happened To Walt Disney's First Studio

On May 18, 1922, a young man hailing from Chicago, Illinois stood inside the office of Missouri's

The Untold Truth Of Eva Marie Saint

Eva Marie Saint is an award-winning actress with a wildly successful career that has spanned over

The Richest Hip-Hop Stars In The World

As a genre, hip-hop is one of the youngest forms of music to hit the mainstream. Its popularity did

The Real Reason Joni Mitchell Passed On Woodstock

Joni Mitchell is one of the greatest singer-guitarist-songwriters of all time. As singer Shawn

Here's How Many Victims The Boston Strangler Might Have Had

When it comes to serial killers, it can be difficult to pin down exactly how many murders they're

What You Didn't Know About Jerry Garcia's Missing Appendage

The Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia is well known for his noodling, improvisational, and melodic style

The Devastating Death Of Johnny Crawford

Hollywood is mourning the death of child actor Johnny Crawford, who died on April 29 at the age of

The Time Beck Speed Recorded An Album

In 1998, after a long tour promoting his album, "Odelay," avant-garde, folk-hip hop (and any other

Cheap Trick's Robin Zander Is Worth A Lot More Than You Think

He wanted us to want him, he needed us to need him — and we did! (Also, apologies if that's stuck

Actors Who Passed Away While Filming

As the saying goes, the only certainties in this life are death and taxes. When it comes to huge,

Inside The Rift Between Michael Jordan And Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan were two of the best basketball players of their time and still

Real Towns Terrorized By Nightmare Creatures

Like most people, you've probably dreamed of having a special slice of earth to call your own.

'This is somebody's culture, and it's not ours'

Leave a Reply