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Head-hunting refers to the act of taking or preserving the head of a person after killing them, typically for ritualistic or ceremonial purposes. This practice was often carried out to demonstrate one's courage, gain control over a rival’s spirit, ensure their servitude in the afterlife, or simply collect the head as a trophy or souvenir. Here are 10 of the most notorious tribes that engaged in head-hunting.
10. Maori
The Maori, Polynesian settlers who established their unique language and culture in New Zealand, formed tribal groups based on Polynesian traditions. A powerful warrior culture developed within these tribes, further solidifying their identity and practices.
This practice led to head-hunting during conflicts and raids. After killing their foes, the fierce Maori would meticulously preserve the heads by removing the skulls and smoking them. The tattoos and facial features of their victims remained visible, making these 'pickled heads' valuable trophies.
The Maori were among the most notorious groups known for engaging in both head-hunting and the cannibalism of their vanquished enemies.
9. The Sumba People
The Sumba people resided on a small island in Sumba, Indonesia. Both East and West Sumba practiced head-hunting, albeit for distinct reasons. In the East, it was a means of demonstrating territorial dominance, while in the West, it was a retaliatory act between rivals.
Despite their differences, they shared similarities, such as the preservation of the skulls they collected. In the East, the heads would be hung from trees during times of conflict. However, when peace prevailed in their lands, the heads would be buried.
In the West, it was common to return only the head to the family of the deceased, while retaining the hair, which was believed to possess magical properties, often used in creating special concoctions.
8. The Scythians
The Scythians were originally Iranian nomads from Eurasia, migrating from Central Asia towards southern Russia and Ukraine, where they established a powerful and prosperous empire that later became known as Crimea. Famous for their expertise in horsemanship, these Aryan headhunters were so brutal that Herodotus documented their tribes. Even Persian rulers spent much of their reigns attempting to destroy the Scythians, who lived to fight and fought to survive.
The Scythians fought mounted on horseback, wielding bows and arrows to take down their enemies, and were exceptional marksmen. After slaying their foes, they were notorious for slitting their enemies' throats, regardless of age or gender, and sawing open their skulls to use them as drinking vessels.
7. The Wa Tribe
The Wa tribe resided in the mountainous regions of eastern Myanmar (Burma) and the southwestern Yunnan Province of China. Their religious practices were deeply rooted in blood sacrifices, often offering chickens, pigs, buffalo, and other animals during events like weddings, funerals, and various social occasions.
The Wa people, from the remote border region of China and Myanmar, were also known for their brutal behavior. Some members of the tribe, referred to as the 'wild' Wa, engaged in head-hunting. They had a specific season dedicated to this practice, often coinciding with the tribe’s need for more fertilizer to aid in crop cultivation.
6. Montenegrins
The Montenegrins were notorious headhunters, continuing the practice as recently as 1912. After decapitating their enemies, they would carry the head by a lock of hair, a means to transfer the victim’s soul to the person who took the head. Primarily located in Europe, the Montenegrins mainly targeted the Ottoman Turks in their head-hunting endeavors. The Ottoman Turks also practiced head-hunting, but were less brutal in their attacks.
In Montenegro, head-hunting was a secondary aspect of warfare, playing a relatively minor role in raids, particularly when neighboring tribes were involved in feuds. Since the Montenegrins did not seek wars or conflicts with nearby communities, large-scale raids and beheadings were mostly reserved for distant targets.
5. The Naga People
The Naga people consist of various tribes located in northeastern India and northwestern Myanmar. Seventeen of these tribes share similar cultural practices and collectively form the Indian state of Nagaland.
Additional Naga tribes are found in the neighboring states of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, as well as in Myanmar. These tribes were known for practicing head-hunting and preserving the heads of their enemies as trophies. In the northeastern region, Assam was home to one of the most brutal Naga tribes.
The term Assam, which means “peerless” in the now-extinct Ahom language, aptly describes a group of headhunters who believed themselves to be superior. In ancient times, all the people living south of the Brahmaputra River practiced head-hunting.
While most head-hunting tribes were direct attackers, the Assam tribe employed a more covert approach. They utilized surprise tactics with raiding parties to capture the heads of their enemies.
4. Qin Soldiers
Some of the earliest accounts of head-hunting come from the Qin army in China during the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC) and the Warring States Period (475–221 BC). The Qin forces ultimately overcame six other states in battle, establishing the Qin dynasty as the first unified, centralized state in Chinese history.
The majority of Qin soldiers were slaves hoping to earn their freedom and secure a better life for their families. These soldiers collected the heads of their slain foes, and in some cases, were granted freedom as a reward. This practice served as a strong motivator for the Qin army, but it struck fear into their adversaries.
3. The Jivaro People
The Jivaro, a South American indigenous people, lived on the eastern slopes of the Andes and earned a reputation as the fiercest head-hunters. They were a warlike society and take pride in the fact that they were never fully defeated by other groups.
This group consisted of tribes known not only for head-hunting but also for shrinking the heads they took. The size of a Jivaro shrunken head was roughly the size of an orange held in your hand.
To make a shrunken head, the Jivaro people first removed the skull of their enemy. They then packed the skin with hot sand to shrink the head to the size of a small monkey, while preserving the features and tattoos. The tribe believed that capturing these heads granted them supernatural powers and they were also driven by a thirst for revenge against those they deemed deserving.
The Shuar, a particularly dangerous tribe within the Jivaro group, referred to a shrunken head as a tsantsa. While head-hunting is no longer practiced, the Shuar continue to craft replica heads, which they sell to tourists who visit the region.
2. The Celts
The Celts of Europe originally practiced head-hunting for religious purposes. They gained notoriety for impaling the heads of their victims on walls or even hanging them from their horses while riding. Eventually, the Celts were converted to Christianity by the semi-Celtic Gaels, but the head-hunting tradition endured.
Over time, the act of collecting heads evolved from a religious ritual to more of a cultural and warrior custom. This practice continued in Ireland until the end of the Middle Ages.
1. Taiwanese Aborigines
The indigenous people of Taiwan were made up of several tribes, all of which engaged in head-hunting, except for the Yami tribe. Those who had recently settled in Taiwan, as well as the Japanese, were often targeted by these head-hunting raids, as they were regarded as intruders, deceivers, and enemies.
Even during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, the tradition of head-hunting persisted. It wasn't until the 1930s, when the Japanese government imposed strict measures, that the practice was finally put to an end.
Before Taiwan's colonization by Japan, head-hunting was a common ritual. Heads were often displayed at events like birthdays, funerals, and weddings. Some were boiled and dried, frequently hanging from trees. The return of a group with a head was often a cause for celebration, as the aboriginal people believed it would bring good luck.
