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The Shuar and the art of head shrinking

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From the end of the nineteenth century, shrunken heads from the Shuar Amazonian Indians filled curiosity cabinets. The practice of severing and shrinking human heads was anchored in their religious beliefs. The Shuar recognised three kinds of souls: the nëkás wakani or ordinary soul, the arutam wakani which can be acquired, and the muisak, a vengeful spirit. The shrunken head or tsantsa was made to prevent the dead person's muisak from taking revenge. The muisak was forced to enter the shrunken head. The captive muisak was then safely sent back to the dead person's home village through a series of feasts. Once the shrunken head was emptied of this angry soul, it was often sold.

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