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(1/6) THREAD 👇👇This is a shrunken head (known as a “tsantsa”), which I had the privilege of holding at the Warsaw Ethnographic Museum while filming a documentary for @SmithsonianChan last year. It was made by the Shuar people in Ecuador during the 19th century. 
@SmithsonianChan (2/6) The process began by obtaining a human head in battle. The warrior would make an incision up the back of the neck & peel the flesh back. The entire skull was then removed and discarded. The eyes & lips were sewn shut. [Photo: @SmithsonianChan]
@SmithsonianChan (3/6) The skin was then boiled & dried. Heated stones were used to fill the cavity. When the head became too small for the stones, heated sand was used instead. In addition, heated rocks were applied to the outside of the head to maintain the features.
@SmithsonianChan (4/6) This process spanned several days. Ash was then rubbed into the skin, and the head hung over a fire to allow it to dry and harden. Once completed, the head was attached to a cord & worn around the warrior’s neck. [Photo: @SmithsonianChan]
@SmithsonianChan (5/6) Nowadays, it is estimated that up to 80% of shrunken heads found in museums or in private collections are counterfeits made from the heads of sloths or monkeys (like this one), which were sold to collectors of curiosities in the 19th century.
@SmithsonianChan (6/6) If you’d like to see one of my clips from SECRETS: SHRUNKEN HEADS on @SmithsonianChan, you can access it here: smithsonianchannel.com/videos/dna-ana… There is a lot more to this fascinating subject, which you can learn in the show! I hope you enjoyed this thread.
@SmithsonianChan This thread is dedicated to my dear friend @charlotteinacup and her mum, who were startled by the sight of me on their TV in Denmark. I guess the show is airing there tonight. They only caught the last half, so had questions about the process. ❤️
