title: Shrunken head (tsantsa): a complete forensic analysis procedure.
abstract: Based on the analysis of shrunken heads referred to our forensic laboratory for anthropological expertise, and data from both anthropological and medical literature, we propose a complete forensic procedure for the analysis of such pieces. A list of 14 original morphological criteria has been developed, based on the global aspect, color, physical deformation, anatomical details, and eventual associated material (wood, vegetal fibers, sand, charcoals, etc.). Such criteria have been tested on a control sample of 20 tsantsa (i.e. shrunken heads from the Jivaro or Shuar tribes of South America). Further complementary analyses are described such as CT-scan and microscopic examination. Such expertise is more and more asked to forensic anthropologists and practitioners in a context of global repatriation of human artifacts to native communities.
authors: Department of Forensic Pathology and Medicine, University Hospital R. Poincaré (AP-HP, UVSQ), 92380 Garches, France. ph_charlier@yahoo.fr
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Charlier
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Huynh-Charlier
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Brun
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Hervé
authors: G Lorin
authors: GL
authors: de la Grandmaison
mesh_terms: D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D049248:Decapitation / Q000266:history*; D004484:Ecuador; D005006:Ethnicity; D018732:Forensic Anthropology; D006257:Head; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D008273:Magic / Q000266:history; D010568:Peru; D011309:Preservation, Biological / Q000379:methods; D014857:Warfare