How to Make Shrunken Heads

Shrunken heads, also known as tsantas, are a traditional craft of the Shuar people of Ecuador and Peru. The process of making a shrunken head is complex and time-consuming, and it is no longer practiced by the Shuar people today. However, there are still some people who know how to make shrunken heads, and the process is still occasionally used for ceremonial purposes.

Here are the steps involved in making a shrunken head:

1. Choose the right head. The head of a monkey or a small animal is typically used, but the head of a human can also be used.

2. Remove the skin from the head. The skin is carefully peeled away from the skull, starting at the neck and working up to the top of the head.

3. Remove the flesh from the skull. The flesh is removed from the skull using a sharp knife.

4. Boil the skull. The skull is boiled in water for several hours until it is completely clean.

5. Dry the skull. The skull is dried in the sun for several days until it is completely dry.

6. Smoke the skull. The skull is smoked over a fire for several days until it is black.

7. Sew the skin back onto the skull. The skin is sewn back onto the skull using a needle and thread.

8. Decorate the head. The head can be decorated with beads, feathers, or other materials.

The process of making a shrunken head is complex and time-consuming, but the result is a unique and fascinating piece of art. Shrunken heads are a symbol of the Shuar people's culture and history, and they are still occasionally used for ceremonial purposes today.