It was behind-the-scenes night at the Field Museum in Chicago and the anthropology department had staff members displaying some of its wares. Here was my chance to ask the question that had been bothering me for years: What had happened to the shrunken heads? Like the baloney people and fetuses at the Museum of Science and Industry and the Ivan Albright paintings at the Art Institute, the Field Museum’s shrunken heads were a crucual rite of passage for generations of Chicago kids.
A staffer answered that they were in storage — at least they hadn’t been thrown out. The museum was no longer a place for curios, he said.
Aspiring to a more scientific mission is admirable and even appropriate. But that shouldn’t require denying the museum’s own historical legacy. Displaying curios is part of its history, and the highpoints of that history should remain accessible. And besides, between Bushman the stuffed gorilla still displayed in the basement and Sue the dinosaur, the museum’s multimillion-dollar T-Rex, there seems to be a continuing commitment to at least some curios.
Meanwhile, here’s the not entirely satisfactory explanation from the Field’s own Web site:
Why were the shrunken heads from South America taken off display?
“The shrunken heads from the Shuara (Jivaro) culture of lowland Ecuador were taken off display when the South America Hall was recently converted into the new Museum store. However, the exhibit in which the heads were showcased was outdated and needed to be revised. Today, we now know that headhunting was a part of the complex religious belief system of the Shuara, who placed a strong emphasis on creating a rich mythology and used shamanistic practices to unify the real and supernatural worlds. From ethnographical research conducted by anthropologist Michael Harner, we also know that the Shuara shrank heads not only of enemies caught in battle, but also of revered members of their community as a way to incorporate their spirits into those of the living.”
Alaka Wali
Associate Curator, Anthropology
I was in the Field Museum today and I asked to see the Shrunken heads again which I last saw when I was there some 15 years ago – I was refused – the question I was asked was what was my reason for wanting to see them – was it research. Me i think that this PC business has gone mad – I appreciate that they have to take care about showing such material that can offend the sensibilities of those who dont want to see such items but I believe that we as a race of curious individuals are so much the poorer for it. It would appear that the way life is going is if you are not part of the “in” crowd you are excluded.
Yes, there is something to be said for simple “curiosity” – that is the main reason we have “progressed” to where we are. When that native curiosity is stifled, then the entire human endevour suffers. Curiosity is a form of research, and should be honored.
We now have homogenization of our culture at all costs – PC reigns supreme – – – – Pretty soon it will be un-PC to view Mr. Dinsmoor in his glass coffin at the Garden of Eden in Lucas, KS.
You should have been given a choice — to see them or not. They didn’t want to bother with you unless you were someone “important”.
I think the points made in favor of curios are valid. I also think it’s important to look at the real reason putting the shrunken heads into storage. The museum wanted to expand the gift shop. I’m sure when the question of taking a public favorite off of display or offering more trinkets at the gift store, the store won hands down with the administration. The question then becomes, why not move the exhibit? The answer to that question is that exhibits are no longer just thrown together without context. It’s a tough debate between museum goers, curators, and museum administrations. Regular museum goers want as much on display as possible in the “old school” style of lots of artifacts/specimen and little explanation. Curators of today want to explain the importance of every artifact/specimen in their particular field of expertise. The administration wants people to buy t-shirts, tickets to traveling exhibits, and special events at the museums for companies or organizations. The administration usually wins. Sorry, but that is what I’ve seen for the last 5 years.
Just went back for the first time in many years and the shrunken heads were first on my list to see… what a drag! Amen to the fetuses and Ivan Albright =) these are the things that have warped me for life =D
I wonder when they were taken off display. I was curious to see them after reading about the effect they had on Obama– see his autobiography.
page 145
“At the Field Museum, I saw two shrunken heads that were on display. They were wrinkled but well preserved, each the size of my palm, their eyes and mouths sewn shut, just as I should have expected. They appeared to be of European extraction: the man had a small goatee, like a conquistador; the female had flowing red hair. I stared at them for a long time (until my mother pulled me away), feeling with the morbid glee of a young boy—- as if I had stumbled upon some sort of cosmic joke. Not so much as the heads had been shrunk — that I could understand; it was the same idea as eating tiger meat with Lolo**, a form of magic, a taking of control. Rather, the fact these little European faces were here in a glass case, where strangers, perhaps even descendants, might observe the details of their gruesome fate. That no one seemed to think that odd.”
At a tiny museum in a small town, there was an exhibit of curios from someone’s travels- including shrunken heads. Freaked me out as a youngster– not glee.
Very gratifying to know the president too had the benefit of those heads. Thanks for the heads-up. Weirder, when I went to double-check the Obama reference, I discovered that my original post had been cited (albeit apparently without attribution) in a right-wing attack on Obama’s book a few years ago: “In Chicago, Obama’s most vivid memory is of seeing the shrunken heads on display at the Field Museum. Yes, the museum did have those heads on display. Examining them, according to one source, was a “crucial rite of passage for generations of Chicago kids.”” I’ll return the favor of not naming the author or the work.
My family went there when I was 8 (1983). And I guess they had been doing some cleaning, & whoever was doing it was kind of careless with the displays. Because the display case with the shrunken heads was open, & (being 8 years old & curious) I started stroking the long red hair on the 1. My mom saw it, & took me immediately to the bathroom to wash my hands. When we continued on, someone (maybe the same worker) had left a case with a mummy open, & I waited until my mom’s back was turned & reached in & touched the mummy. As an 8-year-old it was the best day ever! But looking back, ewwww! Sad to think that they’d not display them anymore.
First thing on my.list after many years. Was told that there were many complaints about them. Poor bleeding heart people are ruining history for the rest of us. They’re feelings and sensitivity are ridiculous. I won’t come back to field museum. Shame on them !!!
I also think bleeding hearts often ruin it for the rest of us, but in this case I can’t fault the museum for no longer wanting to exhibit human remains for our nostalgia and entertainment.