| Reanimating Shrunken Head | |
|---|---|
|
Origin |
Achuar Headhunter; 1890s |
|
Type |
Shrunken Head |
|
Effects |
Animates when given blood |
|
Downsides |
Fill the holder with a unquenchable rage that compels them to decapitate items to sate it. |
|
Activation |
Giving it blood. |
|
Collected by |
Warehouse 13 |
|
Section |
Zeffari-939 |
|
Aisle |
87654-98789-9876 |
|
Shelf |
765-09876 |
|
Date of Collection |
June 2nd, 1909 |
| [Source] | |
Origin[]
A shrunken head is a severed and specially-prepared human head – often decreased to many times smaller than typical size – that is used for trophy, ritual, trade, or other purposes.
Headhunting is believed to have occurred in many regions of the world since time immemorial, but the practice of headshrinking per se has only been documented in the northwestern region of the Amazon rainforest. Jivaroan peoples, which includes the Shuar, Achuar, Huambisa and Aguaruna tribes from Ecuador and Peru, are known to keep shrunken human heads.
Shuar people call a shrunken head a tsantsa, also transliterated tzantza. Many tribe leaders would display their heads to scare enemies. Shrunken heads are known for their mandibular prognathism, facial distortion, and shrinkage of the lateral sides of the forehead; these are artifacts of the shrinking process. Among the Shuar and Achuar, the reduction of the heads was followed by a series of feasts centered on important rituals.
Originally, the head belonged to a Peruvian Achuar headhunter that lived in the 1890s. Although providing European tourists with plenty of shrunken heads, his blood lust was proving to be troublesome, as there was a rumor going around that he was killing other Achuar tribe members who went missing for their heads. Getting tired of him and his killings, the tribe banded together and killed the headhunter and turned his head into a shrunken head as retribution.
Effects[]
Animates when in contact of blood and will fill the holder with a unquenchable rage that compels them to decapitate items to sate it.
Collection[]
Collected after a expedition to peru in 1909 by Warehouse 13 agents looking for Pachacuti's Stones.