Is the scalp hair, skin or head?

The scalp is a word, originally applicable to the military trophy, appreciated in the culture of the Indians of North America. Nowadays a word means a skin cut from the head so that the hair is preserved on it. The most common use of the word - the phrase "remove the scalp."

Historical summary

What does it mean to "remove the scalp," only the Red people knew earlier. Real Indians, the first inhabitants of North America were able to kill enemies and receive trophies from their defeated bodies. What happened in practice? White people, invading America, not only adopted the land from the local population, but also military skills. In particular, pale-faced warriors quickly learned to take off the scalp. Photos of paintings on this subject exist in large numbers.

When the scalp was removed, the victim could survive. This practice has existed since ancient times, and European, Asian barbarians, no less than the American, have mastered the technique of disposing of the enemy from the upper covering of the head. By the way, it was invented even earlier than the American Indians thought up before scalping.

The scalp is a veil removed from the head, which was then stored for specific purposes. The most ancient specimens, which have survived to this day, date back to 190580 AD. However, other scientists say that already 4,5 thousand years ago tribes removed from their enemies scalps.

Stereotypes away

The scalp is not only a military trophy, but also an important object of religious ritual. When the first colonizers came to the New World, they came across local religions, learning how different the practices of the tribes in different regions of the continent. By the way, atapaski and Eskimos shot scalps from enemies less often than others, but loved this practice by those who lived near Mississippi and in Florida. But the Indians, who lived in Canada, did not take off any scalps at all and were a peaceful population. Not entertained by this and those tribes that inhabited the coast of the Pacific.

However, in due course even those who never was engaged in scalping, have joined practice. And the reason is simple: the colonialists introduced a monetary reward for each Indian scalp - it was their attempt to inflict strife among the enemies. Survival in difficult conditions of that period led to an abundance of people wishing to get easy money.

Religion of the Indians

The scalp is not a regalia or a medal, as modern people like to make comparisons. This was an important element of the religious ritual, which timed to a great victory. Practice shows that the scalp was easily replaced by other parts of human bodies - and even bloodstained blankets belonging to defeated opponents.

The scalp, in the form in which it became part of the ritual, began to be extracted when they realized that it was much easier to move it than the whole head. And if the enemy followed the trail in the footsteps, and it was necessary to move quickly and imperceptibly, the heads did not interfere. It was impossible to throw trophies for Indians, and they invented this way, facilitating the bloody harvest.

In addition, the head begins to rot quickly, but keep the scalp intact until the camp, even if it takes several weeks to go to it, it's much easier.

By the way, the scalp was important not only religiously, it was considered an ornamental decoration. They were so proud, they protected him. But we took into account how the trophy got. For example, if the fight turned out to be complex, cruel, then the trophies extracted from it proved to be more valuable. As ornaments were used rare scalps - say, female, extracted from the colonizers.

Survive without a scalp

History knows cases when people in practice learned what the scalp means and how important it is. It's about those who survived with scalping. There was it for different reasons. Perhaps, personal unique stamina, but more often the enemies simply did not have time to bring the matter to an end, and the victim was saved.

What is surprising, this did not mean for him the honor in his native tribe, even on the contrary. For example, in the Panyan Indians, survivors turned into outcasts. The tribe perceived as if ghosted by people, lacking the support of the gods.

Another interesting historical moment has reached our days. During the colonization of North America, there was one Caucasian, who was not lucky enough to fall into the hands of the Indians. Considering him a worthy prey, a red warrior removed the scalp from his prey, but was forced to flee from his place, throwing both the trophy and the victim himself, who had not yet emitted a spirit. The man did not just survive, but he was able to find an abandoned Indian from his head, and then went for help to his own. The warrior managed to survive, but the scalp could not grow into place, it was too late. However, since then, he made a good career, riding around the different American towns and showing everyone his head and the scalp that was taken from her. For the performances paid well.

Take off your scalp?

Of course, a curious person wants to know if it is realistic to take off your scalp yourself. Remember that when scalping, death is called:

- painful shock;

- loss of blood;

- infection.

Already the first item completely excludes the possibility of using one's own strength to remove the scalp from your head. If for some reason a person is deprived of the instinct of self-preservation and is insensitive to pain, when trying to remove the scalp he will probably damage the skull, which will result in an instant death before the operation can be completed.