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Shrunken Head DNA


Ashotep

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Discovery News....A remarkably well-preserved shrunken head has just been authenticated by DNA analysis, which provides strong evidence that anecdotal accounts of violent head-hunting in South America were true.

The study, published in the latest issue of Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, marks the first successful effort to unveil the genetic make-up of a shrunken head.

"The shrunken heads were made from enemies' heads cut on the battlefield," co-author Gila Kahila Bar-Gal told Discovery News. "Then, during spiritual ceremonies, enemies' heads were carefully reduced through boiling and heating, in the attempt to lock the enemy's spirit and protect the killers from spiritual revenge." Read More Here

I didn't know how a shrunken head was made until I read this. Gruesome practice, hope they still don't do this. Do you think they still do?

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I didn't know how a shrunken head was made until I read this. Gruesome practice, hope they still don't do this. Do you think they still do?

If you check out the wikipedia article there is a better explanation of the process.According to the National Geo Channel, the last actual 'head shrinking' probably occured in the 1960's.

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That was gross to say the least.

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Yes it is so gross, I'll read the wikipedia article.

They might make some money if they could figure out how to unshrink something.

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An interesting (if gruesome) read!

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