Practice of hunting a human and collecting the severed head after killing the victim
This article is about the practice of taking heads from humans after killing them. For recruiting in organizations, see Executive search. For other uses, see Headhunter (disambiguation).
Digital painting of a Mississippian-era priest, with a ceremonial flint mace and a severed head, based on a repousse copper plate.
Headhunting is the practice of hunting a human and collecting the severed head after killing the victim, although sometimes more portable body parts (such as ear, nose or scalp) are taken instead as trophies. Headhunting was practiced in historic times in parts of Europe, East Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Mesoamerica, South America, West Africa and Central Africa.
The headhunting practice has been the subject of intense study within the anthropological community, where scholars try to assess and interpret its social roles, functions, and motivations. Anthropological writings explore themes in headhunting that include mortification of the rival, ritual violence, cosmological balance, the display of manhood, cannibalism, dominance over the body and soul of his enemies in life and afterlife, as a trophy and proof of killing (achievement in hunting), show of greatness, prestige by taking on a rival's spirit and power, and as a means of securing the services of the victim as a slave in the afterlife.[1]
Today's scholars generally agree that headhunting's primary function was ritual and ceremonial. It was part of the process of structuring, reinforcing, and defending hierarchical relationships between communities and individuals.[citation needed] Some experts theorize that the practice stemmed from the belief that the head contained "soul matter" or life force, which could be harnessed through its capture.[2]
^E-Modigliani, "Un viaggio a Nias," Fratelli Treves Editori Milano 1890
^Hutton, J. H. "The Significance of Head-Hunting in Assam." The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, vol. 58, 1928, pp. 399–408.
through its capture. Headhunting was practiced by many Austronesian people in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. Headhunting has at one time or another...
mercenaries from Borneo to act as jungle trackers. With a tradition of headhunting, they decapitated suspected MNLA members; the authorities held that taking...
refer to: Headhunting, hunting a human and collecting the severed head after killing them Executive search, informally called headhunting, a specialized...
nominated for Best Documentary Series or Strand. Headhunting The Homeless at IMDb "BBC - Press Office - Headhunting the Homeless". "Broadcast - BBC Programme...
supply tourists and collectors of ethnographic items. The terms 'headhunting' and 'headhunting parties' come from this practice. Guns were usually what the...
40 Commando RM is a battalion-sized formation of the British Royal Marines and subordinate unit within 3 Commando Brigade, the principal Commando formation...
various ethnic groups in Borneo island. Ibans were renowned for practicing headhunting and territorial migration, and had a fearsome reputation as a strong...
establishment of a formal education system, and an end to the practice of headhunting. The resources of Taiwan were used to aid the development of Japan. The...
one genitor. An Ifugao warrior with some of his trophies, circa 1912 Headhunting skulls collected as trophies during blood feuds, displayed at the Hiwang...
set of rules used in engaging in headhunting between the leader and his followers. A usual procedure of headhunting starts when a group of warriors agree...
enemies in customary headhunting expeditions.[citation needed] Every tribe except the Tao people of Orchid Island practiced headhunting, which was a symbol...
suppression of headhunting, with his actions having the support of Woodford and the Western Pacific High Commission, who wanted to eradicate headhunting and complete...
informant in Wutai, Pingtung, the Rukai themselves did not practise headhunting, meaning they would specifically hunt their enemies' heads. Rather, when...
has reduced the occurrence of both mbai and papitsj.[citation needed] Headhunting raids were an important element of Asmat culture until missionaries suppressed...
June 2007. Retrieved 3 October 2006.old-form url Walker, M.D. 2016. Headhunting: the distribution of deer in Great Britain. British Naturalist, 2:5–15...
in the 13th century. The people of Solomon Islands were notorious for headhunting and cannibalism before the arrival of the Europeans. The first European...
cutting edge for sharpness in a process called ngamboh (iron-smithing). In headhunting, it was necessary to be able to draw the parang quickly. For this purpose...
forces, particularly in the Kapit Division. They temporarily revived headhunting of Japanese toward the end of the war, with Allied Z Special Unit provided...
people are almost always presented as a warlike people known for their headhunting tradition and inter-village conflicts in the past, where the manufacture...
related practices found in some tribal societies are cannibalism and headhunting. Human sacrifice is also known as ritual murder. Human sacrifice was...
increase in population in the highlands. Although by the late 20th century headhunting and cannibalism had been practically eradicated, in the past they were...
According to Barbara A. West, "The Samoans were also known to engage in 'headhunting', a ritual of war in which a warrior took the head of his slain opponent...
Several tribes of the Jivaroan group, including the Shuar, practised headhunting for trophies and headshrinking. The accounts of missionaries to the area...
built around both of these activities. Jivaroan culture also features headhunting raids and ayahuasca ceremonies. In the 16th century, Jivaroan warriors...
measurements of the head. Headhunting is the practice of taking and preserving a person's head after killing the person. Headhunting has been practiced across...
that of the United States itself. The practices of slavery, piracy and headhunting were suppressed but not entirely extinguished. A new educational system...
suppress the still-widespread practices of inter-village warfare and headhunting within their respective territories. In 1905, the British government...
on to study headhunting among the Bugkalots in his book Ilongot Headhunting, 1883-1974: A Study in Society and History. He notes headhunting raids are often...
Alan Winnington (16 March 1910 – 26 November 1983) was a British journalist, war correspondent, movie actor, anthropologist, and Communist activist, most...
sharpshooters positioned on the roof of the national baseball stadium went headhunting with sniper rifles". In June 2018, Tim Rogers wrote in The Atlantic magazine:...
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