A Shrunken Head (With Teeth)

A single shrunken head, strangely with the original teeth left inside the mouth, sewn in. Part of the process of “shrinking” the head is the removal of the flesh-hood from the skull before treating it with preservatives. The teeth, being unshrinkable, are usually discarded.

The head at one time belonged to a native of Rangoonampung. This can be ascertained by the fact that the backs of the ears are elaborately tattooed. Among the fishermen of the Rangoonampung region, these tattoos are believed to symbolize their river-gods communication directly with them… gods whisper in their ears. These tattoos make their ears attractive to the gods.

The head’s remaining hair is brittle, black, held with a single tied together river-weed called “Gar’s Heart,” so named because the river gar nibble on it to keep their teeth sharp.

The teeth indicate a diet rich in river gar. Very shiny, even after being treated with the preservative.

These heads are traditionally kept as keepsakes by family members of the deceased, but a few have been known to have been smuggled out of the Rangoonampung by explorers and museum curators with quick fingers and low morals.

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