The Bizarre & Curious History Behind a South American Culture!!! | American Artifact Episode 128

Not every culture is one that we understand, but that doesn't mean that they aren't worth learning more about. This is most certainly the case with Jivaroan people of South America who for generations practiced the shrinking of heads. In this educational video, we look at the history of shrunken heads to learn more about this culture that many of us may be unfamiliar with.
Note: all of the content on this video is for educational purposes and is not meant to shock or disturb in any way.

Пікірлер: 131

  • @TheHistoryUnderground
    @TheHistoryUnderground28 күн бұрын

    If you've watched a few episodes and feel like I've earned it, be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss any new content when it comes out. Also be sure to check out The Gettysburg Museum of History and their store at gettysburgmuseumofhistory.com.

  • @donnievick6770
    @donnievick6770Ай бұрын

    Boy, JD, this one should have come with a "might not to watch on lunch break" warning LOL fascinating and very weird. back to my chips

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    😂

  • @hermessantos1601

    @hermessantos1601

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks! I'm just about to have dinner while watching it. 😅

  • @donnievick6770

    @donnievick6770

    Ай бұрын

    Good luck

  • @FoulOwl2112
    @FoulOwl2112Ай бұрын

    I remember when l was a kid in the 60s and 70s you could order "Shrunken Head Kits" from the back of comics and Monster mags. The kit came with hair, glass eyeballs and bead jewelry and paints. You carved a face into an apple. Then hung it up and let it dehydrate and shrivel up. Then you painted it and dressed it up with the accoutrements. Done right, they looked pretty real. Ahh the good ol' days ...

  • @d.g.n9392

    @d.g.n9392

    Ай бұрын

    I’m also from the 1960’s as a kid, there was at least one 5&10 dime store in our small midwestern town, that sold little rubber heads, looked like a shrunken head. I never bought one. But I think I remembered sometimes seeing one hanging from a hot rod rear view mirror.

  • @krazykripplefitness8760
    @krazykripplefitness8760Ай бұрын

    JD At 3:55, you really let me down, you had the perfect opportunity to walk behind eric with a sheet over your head casually. Maybe next time.

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    😂

  • @alexmclean760

    @alexmclean760

    Ай бұрын

    😂

  • @barbaramai7610
    @barbaramai7610Ай бұрын

    The museum of natural history in Denver had a shrunken head, which I saw on a field trip in grade school. I appreciate the information I learned from your video as that was many years ago and I have been intrigued ever since. Thanks for sharing JD, and thanks to Erik for sharing all of his knowledge!

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    👍🏻

  • @hartshornguy
    @hartshornguyАй бұрын

    Great episode. I love learning about oddities like this. I heard Erik has a piece of the true cross

  • @garys.4789

    @garys.4789

    Ай бұрын

    I will have to check that out the next time I go

  • @bobcalderon2534
    @bobcalderon2534Ай бұрын

    Thanks for the information of history. 😊

  • @timetoretire
    @timetoretireАй бұрын

    We have some at the Cleveland museum of natural history since my childhood.i love them.

  • @rfletch62
    @rfletch62Ай бұрын

    In the'60's a "Creepy Crawlers" mold came out with a shrunken head in it. Needless to say, I made quite a few.

  • @flatusinteruptus
    @flatusinteruptusАй бұрын

    I have one of those , bought it at the Ripley's museum in St. Augustine Florida

  • @Wreckdiver59
    @Wreckdiver59Ай бұрын

    Fun lunchtime video 😅 OK, not really but still interesting. Something I would draw the line at owning though.

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    😂

  • @pauldouglas3084
    @pauldouglas3084Ай бұрын

    Really enjoyed the video mate can't wait for the next one

  • @RealBanz
    @RealBanzАй бұрын

    I saw these on my visit last month. Was curious about the stories about those and moreover, why they were at a Gettysburg museum

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    👍🏻

  • @geofri1747
    @geofri1747Ай бұрын

    In the 1890's my great grandfather was in South America and traded a bayonet and copper cooking pot from the natives. We still have it. I like shows like this when I have some connections to the subject matter.

  • @terryadams1951
    @terryadams1951Ай бұрын

    Well JD, I went all out on the last video, fully expecting a 'reply.' So, now, I want you to just acknowledge the simple fact that I am here....lol. Thank you!!

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks! Appreciate it.

  • @Angela-pm4nd
    @Angela-pm4ndАй бұрын

    Fascinating.

  • @thEannoyingE
    @thEannoyingEАй бұрын

    I wonder if you’ll do a video on the controversial Buchenwald shrunken heads?

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    Well, I did a video on Buchenwald but not the shrunken heads. In my opinion, those were a part of someone’s oddity collection and not connected with the atrocities that took place there.

  • @thEannoyingE

    @thEannoyingE

    Ай бұрын

    @@TheHistoryUndergroundthat’s my assumption as well, oddly enough, they do still exist, they’re in the Yad Vashem museum archives, but are never displayed. I believe the heads were put on display to make the Nazis seem more evil than they already were.

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    @@thEannoyingE - Either that or the soldiers who found them didn’t fully understand what they were looking at and made assumptions.

  • @bluescatreimer
    @bluescatreimerАй бұрын

    Great video, when I was a kid in the early 60's we would buy shrunken heads, of course they were made of plastic.

  • @rkhood452
    @rkhood452Ай бұрын

    THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THE HISTORY FACTS YOU ADD TO ITEMS. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

  • @ericdanielski4802
    @ericdanielski4802Ай бұрын

    Nice video.

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @michiganjems
    @michiganjemsАй бұрын

    Very interesting.

  • @astridgalactic9336
    @astridgalactic9336Ай бұрын

    I saw a shrunken head once in Chicken Man's Voodoo Shop in New Orleans. He had just obtained it somewhere around the Amazon. He was selling it for $5,000. This one was blacker with longer hair. Really creepy.

  • @TattooedPink
    @TattooedPinkАй бұрын

    This is so interesting, I'd love to visit one day. Cheers for the video! 🇦🇺😊

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    👍🏻

  • @katiemyers4174
    @katiemyers4174Ай бұрын

    I learned more in the ten minutes from this video than the times I've visited Ripley's Believe It or Not! Thanks Erik!

  • @adammitchell3462
    @adammitchell3462Ай бұрын

    I appreciate this episode...a welcome change from from your typical content

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    Thanks!

  • @rationalbushcraft
    @rationalbushcraftАй бұрын

    I always enjoy oddities like this. I think I would add that there are a lot of the tourist shrunken heads that are not really human heads. Just something made to look real.

  • @tod2992
    @tod2992Ай бұрын

    Love the channel, please do more USA history.

  • @cophater298
    @cophater298Ай бұрын

    not the most appetizing thing to be watching on my lunch break 🙂

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    😂

  • @ddandthegirls
    @ddandthegirlsАй бұрын

    Always a treat to see Erik ❤

  • @oifiismith
    @oifiismithАй бұрын

    Aloha! Great and informative video. I believe it was "ripley's believe it or not" or the national geographic magazine that I first saw my first shrunken head. Learn something new everyday. Mahalo🤙

  • @sonofhawaii4227
    @sonofhawaii4227Ай бұрын

    Great video guys! I love learning about the strange and mysterious world we live in. Seeing these up and personal is why my family and I will be visiting the Gettysburg Museum of History in the near future. Aloha guys 🤙🏼

  • @danferrell674
    @danferrell674Ай бұрын

    Very interesting, glad to hear a qualified explanation Erik. I just can't figure out how the hair shrinks?

  • @RK57AZ
    @RK57AZАй бұрын

    Hey JD and Erik, This was the first episode that I feel you guys missed the boat! I thought this was going to address the headhunters during WWII in Papua New Guinea? My dad was a PFC. in the 5th Army Air Corps stationed in Papua New Guinea in 45. Like many Vets of this generation he didn’t talk about the war. I for the longest time thought he was an aerial recon photographer 35+ years, all he said was no! Anyway, the three things that I remember him saying about his time over there was how bad the ship ride to and from was. The smell of death and “ there were headhunters over there “! That was all I could get out of him. As always stay safe and healthy. Ron

  • @irishwarrior35
    @irishwarrior35Ай бұрын

    Awwww not my cup of tea but I do love learning new facts and reading the keyboard warriors who think their opinions are the only opinion....sooooo special lol....Thanks JD appreciate you!!

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    👊🏻

  • @johnvanzo9543
    @johnvanzo9543Ай бұрын

    My step father was a pharmacist mate in the Pacific theater during WWII and he brought back a shrunken head, among other souvenirs. He was head radiologist at a hospital and kept it in his office until his colleagues pressured him to dispose of it.

  • @pheart2381

    @pheart2381

    Ай бұрын

    What a shame! I mean a shame he got rid of it.

  • @stubstoo6331

    @stubstoo6331

    Ай бұрын

    So he might have thrown uncle Joe's uncle's head away.😁😁

  • @pheart2381

    @pheart2381

    Ай бұрын

    ​@@stubstoo6331must be where the term pea-brained comes from.

  • @johnvanzo9543

    @johnvanzo9543

    Ай бұрын

    They took X-rays of it. It was just blackened skin over palm husk with no bones. I was 5 at the time and always asked to see it when my mother and I visited his office. Circa 1960.

  • @Chiller11

    @Chiller11

    Ай бұрын

    So he was the chief radiologist that dabbled in shrunken head radiology.

  • @tomy.1846
    @tomy.1846Ай бұрын

    They have 2 shrunken heads at the Vanderbilt Mansion/Museum in Centerport, NY. Interesting place!

  • @teaeff8898
    @teaeff8898Ай бұрын

    “Souvenir shrunken head”; nah, I’ll stick with collecting fridge magnets from places I visit. 😉😄

  • @VENGFUL386
    @VENGFUL386Ай бұрын

    Hey, I am 13 years old and have a huge passion for ww2. I have been saving up to come to your museum for the past few months (i live in Colorado so mainly flights and hotels) and have a few questions. First, what is the best time to come to your museum during summer, especially when Erik is there. If he isn’t there please do not even mention the date, i just really also want to meat him! Second, if anything, what will be for sale physically at the museum. Two and a half, are there anymore of the Bradford freeman autographed book plates? Would there be any copy’s of the book “hang tough?” Thirdly, when the additional band of brothers building will be ready for the public!? Lastly, i have an authentic rear seam ww2 band of brothers 506th pir 101st airborne helmet shell and i am wondering if you guys would purchase it. I do also have an original, authentic front seam, 2nd ranger battalion helmet that i would be willing to sell. I greatly look forward for your response, Milo!

  • @sscinamon
    @sscinamonАй бұрын

    Fascinating

  • @paulkalff6408
    @paulkalff6408Ай бұрын

    James Brown in profile? Amazing! Fine program!

  • @Chiller11
    @Chiller11Ай бұрын

    My first encounter with shrunken heads was in a couple shops in Seattle, Washington. I was a kid from Colorado visiting relatives on the Northwest coast in the 60’s and these were maritime artifacts brought back to the US by sailors. I believe they were authentic but I have no idea if they were “tourist heads” or not. I remember finding them slightly creepy but they seemed to be more prevalent in films and television as part of establishing a primitive jungle setting.

  • @paulgrogan8032
    @paulgrogan8032Ай бұрын

    While on deployment in the P.I. in the late 60's there were still mountain tribes that practiced this behavior while in combat with other tribes.

  • @RakkasanRakkasan
    @RakkasanRakkasanАй бұрын

    Sir! Next week 20th thru 24th my friend and myself will be in Gettysburg at every museum and on the battlefield hope to see you.

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    Awesome! I won’t be in town but I hope that you all have a great time!

  • @RakkasanRakkasan

    @RakkasanRakkasan

    Ай бұрын

    @@TheHistoryUnderground we differently intend to visit the Gettysburg historical museum by chance any suggestions for a good battlefield guide.

  • @RLS-bu4bj
    @RLS-bu4bjАй бұрын

    My kids just saw that head yesterday and were entranced.

  • @SigmaNuHE481
    @SigmaNuHE481Ай бұрын

    Not the innocent sloths!

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    I found the sloth bit to be equally strange as the human heads themselves.

  • @DonAbrams-hq7ln

    @DonAbrams-hq7ln

    Ай бұрын

    The Huks and Negritos did this to the japs in the Philippines in ww2

  • @michaelquigley1863
    @michaelquigley1863Ай бұрын

    Time to get Zak Bagans and the ghost adventures crew in there...😂

  • @duanelawrence78
    @duanelawrence78Ай бұрын

    Learn something new every day!!✌️🇺🇲

  • @buhritnee99
    @buhritnee99Ай бұрын

    I remember seeing this in the museum for the first time and got such weird vibes from it lol

  • @bobo12055
    @bobo12055Ай бұрын

    I noticed them the other day when I stopped by your place. I liked the little one. I said to my buddy that the guy who had it in the tribe wore it as a necklace when he went to party's.

  • @Chris-Nico
    @Chris-NicoАй бұрын

    Fascinating 🤨 thanks for explaining Erik! But, do some of these lost tribes in South America still practice this?

  • @scottpageusmc
    @scottpageusmcАй бұрын

    That's how they used to get us Marines to fit our heads in the jar.

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    😂

  • @SurferJoe1
    @SurferJoe1Ай бұрын

    I thought you were going to say that the 'tourist heads' were the heads of tourists who traded guns for shrunken heads and were then shot and added to inventory. That would have had a nice symmetry.

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    👀

  • @JonStallings
    @JonStallingsАй бұрын

    Hey dad, did you bring me a souvenir? 😲.

  • @coltonmartin3541
    @coltonmartin3541Ай бұрын

    When will the Gettysburg film festival speech be coming out?

  • @knotzed
    @knotzedАй бұрын

    Crazy the Maori in NZ made them the same way for the same reasons their custom also turned into a tourist trade!!

  • @steveporter5360
    @steveporter53609 күн бұрын

    Enjoy your KZread videos

  • @davidvickers1171
    @davidvickers1171Ай бұрын

    Imagine going to some ones house and visiting and you turn and look behind you on a end table theirs a shrunken head , youd probably think twice about visiting again ! 😮

  • @jonathanpasch6604
    @jonathanpasch6604Ай бұрын

    I was in the pool!!

  • @1psychofan
    @1psychofanАй бұрын

    Gotta say- shrunken heads are disgustingly ugly. I’d never possess one. But, they are history and important to know! Thank you JD for grossing me out a bit! 😂

  • @ianlast6722
    @ianlast6722Ай бұрын

    I don’t really want to know but my curiosity has the better of me.. what’s the going price for a shrunken head these days?

  • @cyndiebill6631
    @cyndiebill6631Ай бұрын

    Strange but very interesting. We had some strange cultures going on in this country too and still do. That’s what makes this country so diverse. 👍😊

  • @semperfi5861
    @semperfi5861Ай бұрын

    Your thumbnail looks like Prince 😅😂🤣

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    Ha!

  • @kennithminnich
    @kennithminnichАй бұрын

    I would love to obtain a shrunken head. Too pricey for me..

  • @FuzzyWuzzy75
    @FuzzyWuzzy75Ай бұрын

    That shrunken head kind of looks like Kat Williams... but not that much smaller than the real Kat Williams lol.

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    😂

  • @garys.4789
    @garys.4789Ай бұрын

    I must be weird cause ever since I was a kid. I always wanted a real shrunken head 😎👍

  • @staxmarshall
    @staxmarshallАй бұрын

    Possessing authentic shrunken heads isn't illegal, but making new ones probably is.

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    Ha!

  • @stubstoo6331
    @stubstoo6331Ай бұрын

    OH my that could be Joe's uncle.🤦🤦

  • @ninjamoves3642
    @ninjamoves3642Ай бұрын

    Happy Mothers Day lol

  • @71jolanc
    @71jolancАй бұрын

    #1

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    👊🏻

  • @jeffe9842
    @jeffe9842Ай бұрын

    Now I don't have a reason not to visit Erik's museum. lol

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    Ha! Plenty of other good stuff there to see.

  • @LIE11Bldg7
    @LIE11Bldg7Ай бұрын

    James Brown The godfather of soul Number one soul brother

  • @michaels.594
    @michaels.594Ай бұрын

    well if it's okay to have these heads. why can't we have Gen Custer's head with the arrows still stuck in it? Is anything off limits?? Don't turn The Gettysburg Museum of History into a freak show, please.

  • @terryeustice5399
    @terryeustice5399Ай бұрын

    That’s strange for sure Erik and JD. Had no idea. I Learned something.i always thought had something to do with Vodoo. Whew! Glad I’m not superstitious. 💯👊👍

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    Definitely a strange practice.

  • @dalj4362
    @dalj4362Ай бұрын

    Creepy asf

  • @debrasams2362
    @debrasams2362Ай бұрын

    I definitely do not want one. Too gross for me.

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    Definitely an oddity.

  • @alexmclean760
    @alexmclean760Ай бұрын

    Lol shrunken heads soo how do they make a shrunken head and also avoid the amazon got it

  • @anthonycalbillo9376
    @anthonycalbillo9376Ай бұрын

    Please tell me those are fake. Because I might just have to skip this one. Creepy things freak me out. I mean, I'll keep it liked, but those things are too weird for me.

  • @TheHistoryUnderground

    @TheHistoryUnderground

    Ай бұрын

    👀

  • @anthonycalbillo9376

    @anthonycalbillo9376

    Ай бұрын

    @@TheHistoryUnderground Yeah, I only made it into, about, a minute or two.

  • @sbishop6450
    @sbishop6450Ай бұрын

    All I can say is Eww! Not something I want sitting on top of my shelf thanks!

  • @rossbassette7518
    @rossbassette7518Ай бұрын

    Looks like Senator Maxine Waters

  • @nanetterolph2972
    @nanetterolph2972Ай бұрын

    Yes, i agree not a dinner video! Most medical stuff doesn't really bother me but this kinda grossed me out no matter the educational aspect! Keep doing the basic history stuff please! Also thank you for not putting it out on mothers day! Sorry!!!!

  • @rickgregory9616
    @rickgregory9616Ай бұрын

    Good thing we don't have this tradition with our political leaders. Bidens head would shrink to nothing! 🤣 I do have a question though: If they thought shrinking the head captured the spirit from seeking revenge; I'm surprised they didn't think taking their picture captured their spirit?

  • @pheart2381

    @pheart2381

    Ай бұрын

    Some cultures do think photos capture their spirit!

  • @stubstoo6331

    @stubstoo6331

    Ай бұрын

    You due realize that could be uncle Joe's uncle's head after all his uncle was eaten by cannibals. Maybe they shrank his head.🤦🤦