![]() ![]() The embalming mixture would have acted as an aromatic agent, and its antibacterial properties would have prevented decay and preserved the individual’s appearance, making the vanquished enemy recognizable for a long time. Belkadi described the find as a monstrous discovery, which spoke volumes about colonial barbarism. For centuries, the famous relics (known as tsantsas) of the. The heads were displayed on poles and later taken back to France as war trophies. ![]() The heads had been on show in French museums for nearly two centuries, displayed as objets d’art. “We don’t know the precise process, but this is the first time that we have scientific proof of embalming,” says archaeologist Réjane Roure of Paul Valéry University. A tsantsa from Chatham-Kent Museum (Poeta, et al., PLoS One, 2022) Reduced to the size of an apple with their eyes and lips stitched shut, its easy to forget that these iconic shrunken heads are, in fact, the remains of real humans who once lived and breathed. France has handed over 20 mummified Maori heads to New Zealand after four years of negotiations. Experts believe the pleasant-smelling resins may have been heated and mixed with plant oil before being applied to the heads as an embalming agent. Eloise Quetel, head of medical collections at Paris's Sorbonne University, has also had to grapple with the ethics of such displays and thinks that 'they can't be presented as they were before'. skull fragments from the Celtic site of Le Cailar in southern France has detected the presence of conifer resins. An intriguing new study now confirms the sources’ assertion that the decapitated heads were embalmed. Archaeological evidence of this practice has come in the form of human skulls discovered at several Celtic sites. The municipal ossuary in the Paris Catacombs is one of the worlds largest and one of only a handful located underground. They would remove the heads of their fallen enemies and proudly carry them home as trophies to be put on public display. Having cast off colonial rule, they have learned to defend themselves. According to ancient Greco-Roman sources, Celtic warriors living in France more than 2,000 years ago practiced a gruesome ritual. The Muse de lHomme (French, Museum of Mankind or Museum of Humanity) is an anthropology museum in Paris, France. France’s former defeated foes are now demanding their treasure and history back. ![]()
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