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Open Access 01-05-2017 | Case Report

The genetic evidence for human origin of Jivaroan shrunken heads in collections from the Polish museums

Authors: Danuta Piniewska, Marek Sanak, Marta Wojtas, Nina Polanska

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 3/2017

Abstract

Advances in forensic identification using molecular genetics are helpful in resolving some historical mysteries. The aim of this study was to confirm the authenticity of shrunken-head artifacts exhibited by two Polish museums. Shrunken heads, known as tsantsas, were headhunting trophies of South American Indians (Jivaroan). A special preparation preserved their hair and facial appearance. However, it was quite common to offer counterfeit shrunken heads of sloths or monkeys to collectors of curiosities. We sampled small skin specimens of four shrunken-head skin from the museum collection from Warsaw and Krakow, Poland. Following genomic DNA isolation, highly polymorphic short tandem repeats were genotyped using a commercial chemistry and DNA sequencing analyzer. Haplogroups of human Y chromosome were identified. We obtained an informative genetic profile of genomic short tandem repeats from all the samples of shrunken heads. Moreover, amplification of amelogenin loci allowed for sex determination. All four studied shrunken heads were of human origin. In two ones, a shared Y-chromosome haplogroup Q characteristic for Indigenous Americans was detected. Another artifact was counterfeited because Y-chromosome haplogroup I2 was found, characteristic for the Southeastern European origin. Commercial genetic methods of identification can be applied successfully in studies on the origin and authenticity of some unusual collection items.

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Title: The genetic evidence for human origin of Jivaroan shrunken heads in collections from the Polish museums
Authors: Danuta Piniewska
Marek Sanak
Marta Wojtas
Nina Polanska
Publication date: 01-05-2017
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 3/2017
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1448-7

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

The genetic evidence for human origin of Jivaroan shrunken heads in collections from the Polish museums

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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