Watch National Geographic Documentaries online: Episode 18 Headshrinkers of the Amazon

From the earliest days of Amazonian exploration, stories filtered back about the terrifying ritual practised by the region's headshrinkers who would shrink an enemy's head to render the vengeful soul powerless. Including rare footage of a reputed real-life ceremony from the 1960s, this documentary probes whether the film is genuine, if this shocking practice still takes place today, and how such a horrific custom evolved among these remote jungle inhabitants. British writer and adventurer Piers Gibbon is determined to find out, as he heads deep into the rainforest to meet the tribes whose superstitions and desire for revenge led to the legend of the headshrinkers. And in the heart of the jungle Piers discovers why it is still so dangerous to seek out the Headshrinkers of the Amazon. AKA: Search for the Amazon Headshrinkers

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