Head Hunter Weapons

Jim McDougall · 7th August 2009, 04:18 PM

An interesting topic, and truly a formidable task Trenchwarfare! All the more so because discussion and research on this subject can easily lead to misperceptions and inadvertantly inflammatory comments on specific ethnic groups.
As was once well said by Alan Maisey, we must be cautious in examining cultural and traditional practices of certain ethnic and tribal groups, as we cannot guage such practices by our standards. I once read a book, I cannot recall the title now, but it was to the effect of headhunting in the Solomon Islands. The title itself was frankly bone chilling, but intriguing and as an always curious student of anthropology, I was compelled to go through it.

Naturally sensational accounts using the headhunter term abound in adventure narratives of the 20's and 30's, and I am pretty sure that our local sage on Oceanic and native tribes of various Pacific and other archipelagos, Vandoo, can present some great examples with his very discerning perspective revealing actual vs. sensational veneer.

Lets proceed with caution, and I look forward to a great discussion!!!!

All best regards,
Jim

Emanuel · 7th August 2009, 04:35 PM

I have an article on headhunting in Montenegro, "Head-Hunting in the Balkans", Durham M. Edith, Man Vol23 (1923):19-21, if anyone is interested. Apparently a late-19th early 20th centuries practice in some parts of Montenegro, of young men bringing back Ottoman and other heads as trophies. There are anecdotes of women going into "enemy" camps by night to recuperate the heads of loved ones. Hunting was carried out with "khanjars", no pictures are given, but I'm assuming this refers to yataghan and karakulaks.
An interesting read.

Emanuel

trenchwarfare · 7th August 2009, 05:17 PM

Yes Emanuel, would be very interested. I have found numerous accounts of the collecting of heads, throughout the balkan region. Especially during WWII. On a website, I saw a picture of the head or a Colonel on a table. There was also a picture of a man, being decapitated with a big wood saw!

Looked like the same Colonel. Even photos of childrens heads. It is rumored that the practice was revived, during the "Ethnic Cleansing" of the 1990's. I know it was revived big time, During WWII in the Pacific. This could have led many US personnel to follow suit, especially, if he saw the locals doing it. Very morid, but fasinating subject. The search goes on

fearn · 7th August 2009, 06:14 PM

I have to agree with Jim about the care and caution part.

One question is where to draw the line: Scalps, for instance? How about modern terrorists?

I have a certain (probably romantic) sympathy with the tropical tribesmen who needed to kill a man in another tribe in order to become a man themselves. In a hostile environment, this type of reciprocal headhunting limited the population, allowing them to live sustainably (whether they intended it or not). Conversely, I don't want to see any more videos of hostages getting beheaded, and I'm uninterested in collecting Iraqi swords that are capable of the deed. Where to draw the line is the hard part.

Best,

F

Rick · 7th August 2009, 06:23 PM

Just for fun ?
Jean Leon Gerome .

http://www.painting-in-oil.com/enlarge-id-9265.html

VANDOO · 8th August 2009, 07:16 AM

I MAY BE SOMEWHAT OF A PURIST IN REGARD TO HEADHUNTER IN ITS PURE ETHINOGRAPHIC SENSE. BIG WORDS FOR SUCH A GORY SUBJECT

TRIBES WHO TOOK HEADS FOR REASONS HAVING TO DO WITH THEIR 1.TRIBAL BELIEFS,
2. TO PROVE THEMSELVES WORTHY AS A WARRIOR AND PROTECTOR OF THEIR VILLAGE AND FAMILY AND TO OBTAIN A WIFE.
3. FOR THE SPIRITUAL PROTECTION AND WELL BEING OF THE VILLAGE
4. TO AVENGE TRIBAL MEMBERS OR ANCESTORS WHO HAD LOST THEIR HEAD TO THEIR ENEMYS. THIS WAS SORT OF A SPIRITUAL BALANCING OF THE BOOKS AS THE VILLAGE LOST SPIRITUAL POWER WHEN THEY LOST A MEMBER TO ANOTHER TRIBE AND GAINED IT BACK WHEN THEY TOOK A HEAD FROM THAT TRIBE. A TRIBE WITH MORE HEADS TAKEN WAS CONSIDERED TO HAVE STRONGER PROTECTION FROM EVIL SPIRITS AS WELL AS THE ENEMY.

THESE TRIBES I REFER TO AS HEADHUNTERS AS IT FITS INTO THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM AND THOUGH IN A WAY IT IS A COMPETICIAN OR SPORT IT WAS MUCH MORE THAN THAT TO THE SOCIETIES INVOLVED.

HEADS HAVE BEEN TAKEN FOR MANY REASONS FOR PUBLIC EXHIBITION AS IN RICKS PAINTING WHERE IT IS PLACED ON DISPLAY AS A WARNING TO EVERYONE THAT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO OPPOSE US. SUCH DISPLAYS DO NOT COUNT AS HEADHUNTING AND NEITHER DOES THE FREQUENT USE OF THE GUILLOTINE DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. AS TO BEHEADINGS BY TERRORISTS IT IS AN ACT OF BARBARISM SHOWING THEY DO NOT CARE WHAT CIVILIZED PEOPLE THINK AND WILL DO AS THEY PLEASE. THEY HOPE IT WILL SCARE EVERYONE AND THEY WILL GAIN POWER FROM SUCH ACTS AND IF IT WORKS THEN THEY CAN DO EVEN MORE HORRIBLE THINGS WHEN THEY WISH. THE BEHEADINGS DURING WW2 WERE SEEN AS EXECUTIONS BY THE JAPENESE AND IF OTHER TROUPS DID IT WAS EITHER EXECUTION OR RETALIATION. EVEN THE RECENT DAYAK VERSUS IMMIGRATES HEAD TAKEING WAS MORE OF A TERROR TACTIC AND NOT A RETURN BY THE DAYAKS TO THEIR OLD TRIBAL BELIEFS AND WAYS. SO I CONSIDER NONE OF THESE ACTIONS TO BE HEADHUNTING.

HEADHUNTING WAS A COMMON PRACTICE BECAUSE EARLY ON MAN FIGURED OUT THE CENTER OF A MANS SPIRIT WAS IN HIS HEAD AND THAT WAS NO DOUBT THE STRONGEST SPIRITUAL PART OF A BODY AND IF THE OBJECT WAS TO CONTROL THIS SPIRIT FOR THE GOOD OF THE TRIBE THEY WOULD KEEP THE STRONGEST PART. SOMETIMES FEET OR HANDS WERE CUT OFF, PERHAPS THRU SOME SUPERSTITION THAT IF THIS WAS DONE THE SPIRIT COULD NOT CAUSE THE BODY TO FOLLOW AND SEEK REVENGE BY BRINGING BAD LUCK OR SICKNESS ON THE VILLAGE. BESIDES THE SKULL IS DEFINITELY THE MOST FACINATING BONE IN THE BODY.

TRIBES WHO HEADHUNTED BY TRADITION AND BELIEF WERE MANY
1. THE NAGA AND WILD TRIBES IN INDIA AND SURROUNDING REGIONS
2. QUITE A FEW TRIBES IN THE PHILIPPINES AND I SUSPECT AS IT WAS SO COMMON THERE IT IS LIKELY THE MORO'S ANCESTORS PRACTICED IT EVEN IF THE MOROS LATER DISCARDED THE PAGAN BELIEFS AND JUST ENJOYED BEHEADING AN ENEMY AS A FORM OF EXECUTION.
3. TAIWAN ABORIGINALS
4. SOLOMON ISLANDS
5. MANY ISLANDS IN WHAT IS NOW INDONESIA OR MALAYSIA THIS INCLUDES BORNEO
6. SEVERAL COUNTRIES IN SOUTH AMERICA AND NO DOUBT SOME TRIBES IN NORTH AMERICA AS WELL IF YOU COULD GO FAR ENOUGH BACK BEFORE THE EUROPEANS CAME.
7. THE MAORI OF NEW ZEALAND
8. SOME TRIBES IN NEW GUINEA

MANY OF THESE PEOPLES HAVE LOST THE BELIEFS THAT MADE THIS PRACTICE SO IMPORTANT IN THE PAST. THE REASONS ARE MANY INVASION AND SUBJIGATION BY A CULTURE OUTSIDE THEIR OWN BEING ONE. MUSEUMS OR COLLECTORS COMING INTO THE AREA AND OFFERING GREAT RICHES FOR HEADS. MANY MAORI WERE KILLED NOT FOR TRIBAL REASONS BUT BECAUSE THEIR NICELY TATOOED HEAD DRIED AND SMOKED PROPERLY COULD BE TRADED FOR A GUN OR SEVERAL STEEL AXES TO THE FORIGENERS. THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN SOUTH AMERICA WITH SHRUNKEN HEADS. THERE WERE EVEN MEDICAL MEN WHO TOOK THE HEADS OF THOSE WHO DIED OF THYPHOID AND OTHER MALIDIES AND SHRUNK THEIR HEADS FOR SALE AND THERE WERE EVEN SOME EXAMPLES WHERE THEY SHRUNK THE ENTIRE BODY.

THE ORIGINAL HEADHUNTING PRACTICE PROBABLY AROSE FROM A QUEST BY TRIBAL MAN TO PROTECT HIMSELF FROM THE SPIRITUAL WORLD OF THOSE WHO HAD ALREADY DIED AS WELL AS OTHER SPIRITS AND UNKNOWN THINGS. IT MUST HAVE BEEN A VERY OLD INSTINCTIVE FEELING IN MAN AS IT CROPPED UP IN MANY PLACES AND DIFFERENT RACES FOR MUCH THE SAME REASONS AND BELIEFS.
PARDON MY RAMBELINGS BUT THATS MY SPIN ON IT. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR PROJECT

trenchwarfare · 8th August 2009, 07:42 PM

Not a ramble at all, Vandoo. I do plan to keep pretty much to purpose headhunting, for religious, or cultural beliefs. There will be a few wartime examples. Speaking of Maori heads, I read that slaves were often tatooed to order. Once the tatoos healed. They were killed, the head dried, and sold to the perspective buyer. Headhunting was always frowned upon, by colonial powers, and abolished. However when a controlling entity wanted other tribal lands, permission would be granted, to "take a few heads", just to creat an incident. Once retalliation took place. Government troops could be sent in to "pacify", the beligerants. I would love to see pictures of any trophy heads, that board members have. I can't remember who's collection had some Asmat heads.

7th August 2009, 06:23 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Heads Of The Rebel Beys Just for fun ? Jean Leon Gerome . http://www.painting-in-oil.com/enlarge-id-9265.html

7th August 2009, 04:18 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,285	An interesting topic, and truly a formidable task Trenchwarfare! All the more so because discussion and research on this subject can easily lead to misperceptions and inadvertantly inflammatory comments on specific ethnic groups. As was once well said by Alan Maisey, we must be cautious in examining cultural and traditional practices of certain ethnic and tribal groups, as we cannot guage such practices by our standards. I once read a book, I cannot recall the title now, but it was to the effect of headhunting in the Solomon Islands. The title itself was frankly bone chilling, but intriguing and as an always curious student of anthropology, I was compelled to go through it. Naturally sensational accounts using the headhunter term abound in adventure narratives of the 20's and 30's, and I am pretty sure that our local sage on Oceanic and native tribes of various Pacific and other archipelagos, Vandoo, can present some great examples with his very discerning perspective revealing actual vs. sensational veneer. Lets proceed with caution, and I look forward to a great discussion!!!! All best regards, Jim

7th August 2009, 04:35 PM	#2
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	I have an article on headhunting in Montenegro, "Head-Hunting in the Balkans", Durham M. Edith, Man Vol23 (1923):19-21, if anyone is interested. Apparently a late-19th early 20th centuries practice in some parts of Montenegro, of young men bringing back Ottoman and other heads as trophies. There are anecdotes of women going into "enemy" camps by night to recuperate the heads of loved ones. Hunting was carried out with "khanjars", no pictures are given, but I'm assuming this refers to yataghan and karakulaks. An interesting read. Emanuel

7th August 2009, 05:17 PM	#3
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	Yes Emanuel, would be very interested. I have found numerous accounts of the collecting of heads, throughout the balkan region. Especially during WWII. On a website, I saw a picture of the head or a Colonel on a table. There was also a picture of a man, being decapitated with a big wood saw! Looked like the same Colonel. Even photos of childrens heads. It is rumored that the practice was revived, during the "Ethnic Cleansing" of the 1990's. I know it was revived big time, During WWII in the Pacific. This could have led many US personnel to follow suit, especially, if he saw the locals doing it. Very morid, but fasinating subject. The search goes on

7th August 2009, 06:14 PM	#4
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	I have to agree with Jim about the care and caution part. One question is where to draw the line: Scalps, for instance? How about modern terrorists? I have a certain (probably romantic) sympathy with the tropical tribesmen who needed to kill a man in another tribe in order to become a man themselves. In a hostile environment, this type of reciprocal headhunting limited the population, allowing them to live sustainably (whether they intended it or not). Conversely, I don't want to see any more videos of hostages getting beheaded, and I'm uninterested in collecting Iraqi swords that are capable of the deed. Where to draw the line is the hard part. Best, F

8th August 2009, 07:16 AM	#6
VANDOO (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: OKLAHOMA, USA Posts: 3,138	I MAY BE SOMEWHAT OF A PURIST IN REGARD TO HEADHUNTER IN ITS PURE ETHINOGRAPHIC SENSE. BIG WORDS FOR SUCH A GORY SUBJECT TRIBES WHO TOOK HEADS FOR REASONS HAVING TO DO WITH THEIR 1.TRIBAL BELIEFS, 2. TO PROVE THEMSELVES WORTHY AS A WARRIOR AND PROTECTOR OF THEIR VILLAGE AND FAMILY AND TO OBTAIN A WIFE. 3. FOR THE SPIRITUAL PROTECTION AND WELL BEING OF THE VILLAGE 4. TO AVENGE TRIBAL MEMBERS OR ANCESTORS WHO HAD LOST THEIR HEAD TO THEIR ENEMYS. THIS WAS SORT OF A SPIRITUAL BALANCING OF THE BOOKS AS THE VILLAGE LOST SPIRITUAL POWER WHEN THEY LOST A MEMBER TO ANOTHER TRIBE AND GAINED IT BACK WHEN THEY TOOK A HEAD FROM THAT TRIBE. A TRIBE WITH MORE HEADS TAKEN WAS CONSIDERED TO HAVE STRONGER PROTECTION FROM EVIL SPIRITS AS WELL AS THE ENEMY. THESE TRIBES I REFER TO AS HEADHUNTERS AS IT FITS INTO THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM AND THOUGH IN A WAY IT IS A COMPETICIAN OR SPORT IT WAS MUCH MORE THAN THAT TO THE SOCIETIES INVOLVED. HEADS HAVE BEEN TAKEN FOR MANY REASONS FOR PUBLIC EXHIBITION AS IN RICKS PAINTING WHERE IT IS PLACED ON DISPLAY AS A WARNING TO EVERYONE THAT THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO OPPOSE US. SUCH DISPLAYS DO NOT COUNT AS HEADHUNTING AND NEITHER DOES THE FREQUENT USE OF THE GUILLOTINE DURING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. AS TO BEHEADINGS BY TERRORISTS IT IS AN ACT OF BARBARISM SHOWING THEY DO NOT CARE WHAT CIVILIZED PEOPLE THINK AND WILL DO AS THEY PLEASE. THEY HOPE IT WILL SCARE EVERYONE AND THEY WILL GAIN POWER FROM SUCH ACTS AND IF IT WORKS THEN THEY CAN DO EVEN MORE HORRIBLE THINGS WHEN THEY WISH. THE BEHEADINGS DURING WW2 WERE SEEN AS EXECUTIONS BY THE JAPENESE AND IF OTHER TROUPS DID IT WAS EITHER EXECUTION OR RETALIATION. EVEN THE RECENT DAYAK VERSUS IMMIGRATES HEAD TAKEING WAS MORE OF A TERROR TACTIC AND NOT A RETURN BY THE DAYAKS TO THEIR OLD TRIBAL BELIEFS AND WAYS. SO I CONSIDER NONE OF THESE ACTIONS TO BE HEADHUNTING. HEADHUNTING WAS A COMMON PRACTICE BECAUSE EARLY ON MAN FIGURED OUT THE CENTER OF A MANS SPIRIT WAS IN HIS HEAD AND THAT WAS NO DOUBT THE STRONGEST SPIRITUAL PART OF A BODY AND IF THE OBJECT WAS TO CONTROL THIS SPIRIT FOR THE GOOD OF THE TRIBE THEY WOULD KEEP THE STRONGEST PART. SOMETIMES FEET OR HANDS WERE CUT OFF, PERHAPS THRU SOME SUPERSTITION THAT IF THIS WAS DONE THE SPIRIT COULD NOT CAUSE THE BODY TO FOLLOW AND SEEK REVENGE BY BRINGING BAD LUCK OR SICKNESS ON THE VILLAGE. BESIDES THE SKULL IS DEFINITELY THE MOST FACINATING BONE IN THE BODY. TRIBES WHO HEADHUNTED BY TRADITION AND BELIEF WERE MANY 1. THE NAGA AND WILD TRIBES IN INDIA AND SURROUNDING REGIONS 2. QUITE A FEW TRIBES IN THE PHILIPPINES AND I SUSPECT AS IT WAS SO COMMON THERE IT IS LIKELY THE MORO'S ANCESTORS PRACTICED IT EVEN IF THE MOROS LATER DISCARDED THE PAGAN BELIEFS AND JUST ENJOYED BEHEADING AN ENEMY AS A FORM OF EXECUTION. 3. TAIWAN ABORIGINALS 4. SOLOMON ISLANDS 5. MANY ISLANDS IN WHAT IS NOW INDONESIA OR MALAYSIA THIS INCLUDES BORNEO 6. SEVERAL COUNTRIES IN SOUTH AMERICA AND NO DOUBT SOME TRIBES IN NORTH AMERICA AS WELL IF YOU COULD GO FAR ENOUGH BACK BEFORE THE EUROPEANS CAME. 7. THE MAORI OF NEW ZEALAND 8. SOME TRIBES IN NEW GUINEA MANY OF THESE PEOPLES HAVE LOST THE BELIEFS THAT MADE THIS PRACTICE SO IMPORTANT IN THE PAST. THE REASONS ARE MANY INVASION AND SUBJIGATION BY A CULTURE OUTSIDE THEIR OWN BEING ONE. MUSEUMS OR COLLECTORS COMING INTO THE AREA AND OFFERING GREAT RICHES FOR HEADS. MANY MAORI WERE KILLED NOT FOR TRIBAL REASONS BUT BECAUSE THEIR NICELY TATOOED HEAD DRIED AND SMOKED PROPERLY COULD BE TRADED FOR A GUN OR SEVERAL STEEL AXES TO THE FORIGENERS. THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN SOUTH AMERICA WITH SHRUNKEN HEADS. THERE WERE EVEN MEDICAL MEN WHO TOOK THE HEADS OF THOSE WHO DIED OF THYPHOID AND OTHER MALIDIES AND SHRUNK THEIR HEADS FOR SALE AND THERE WERE EVEN SOME EXAMPLES WHERE THEY SHRUNK THE ENTIRE BODY. THE ORIGINAL HEADHUNTING PRACTICE PROBABLY AROSE FROM A QUEST BY TRIBAL MAN TO PROTECT HIMSELF FROM THE SPIRITUAL WORLD OF THOSE WHO HAD ALREADY DIED AS WELL AS OTHER SPIRITS AND UNKNOWN THINGS. IT MUST HAVE BEEN A VERY OLD INSTINCTIVE FEELING IN MAN AS IT CROPPED UP IN MANY PLACES AND DIFFERENT RACES FOR MUCH THE SAME REASONS AND BELIEFS. PARDON MY RAMBELINGS BUT THATS MY SPIN ON IT. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR PROJECT

8th August 2009, 07:42 PM	#7
trenchwarfare Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 385	Not a ramble at all, Vandoo. I do plan to keep pretty much to purpose headhunting, for religious, or cultural beliefs. There will be a few wartime examples. Speaking of Maori heads, I read that slaves were often tatooed to order. Once the tatoos healed. They were killed, the head dried, and sold to the perspective buyer. Headhunting was always frowned upon, by colonial powers, and abolished. However when a controlling entity wanted other tribal lands, permission would be granted, to "take a few heads", just to creat an incident. Once retalliation took place. Government troops could be sent in to "pacify", the beligerants. I would love to see pictures of any trophy heads, that board members have. I can't remember who's collection had some Asmat heads.