Tsantsa (Shrunken Heads) Investigation

This research applied advanced, non-invasive scientific techniques to the study of tsantsa (shrunken heads), including CT imaging, macroscopic and microscopic analysis, hair sampling, alternative light source imaging, and infrared reflectography. The work identified key differences between ceremonial tsantsa produced within Indigenous Amazonian traditions and later commercial examples, while also providing new insights into mummification practices and tissue preservation relevant to facial approximation.

Findings from this research have been published in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Cultural Heritage and Forensic Science International, and shared widely through National Geographic Magazine, the Smithsonian Channel, and BBC Radio 4: Material World. The research, complimented by the generated facial estimate, helped re-humanise remains long viewed as ethnographic curiosities, showing how ethical, conservation-led science can foster respect, understanding, and cultural context.