Naga Head Taker's Basket and Hat

Head Taker’s Cane Hat, 20th century
Naga people; Myanmar (Burma)
Cane, monkey skull, hornbill beak, boar tusk, boar tail, goat hair and metal; 11 1/2 x 7 x 9 1/4 in.
94.52.1
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Donald and Naomi Jue
These types of hats and baskets were worn by Naga warriors who participated in the act of head taking. Seen as essential for the rejuvenation of the community, human heads were taken from any non-village person found during excursions for the precious loot. Strong correlations exist in Naga culture between fertility, agriculture, the community’s health and well-being, and the bringing of a head into a village would ensure these benefits. The revered status of a warrior was achieved through proximity to the taken head during any part of the head taking event. This meant that one did not have to physically be the decapitator but could clean, touch, accompany back to the village, or ceremonially hang or place it and still achieve status. The decorative elements on the hat and basket shown here were worn by those who earned the right to wear such powerful symbols through their association with the event. The monkey skull found on both the hat and the backpack represent one who has taken a human head and the large hornbill has correlations with fertility. Other materials include boar tusks, a metal strip on the crest of the hat, dyed goat hair, and bristly boar’s tails used as tassels on the basket. The Naga people live in several groups in the region where Myanmar (Burma), China and India meet. Headhunting is said to be one reason the related Naga groups developed in isolation from one another. All text and images under copyright. Please contact Collection Department for permission to use. Information subject to change with additional research.