The Future of the Shrunken Heads

Saturday 11 October, 14.00 - 16.00 

Oxford University Museum of Natural History Lecture Theatre

Free, no booking required

From 5-12 October 2025, a delegation of Shuar leaders, elders, students and professors from Ecuador will spend a week visiting the British Museum, Science Museum Group and the Pitt Rivers Museum as part of the on-going Proyecto Tsantsa. This visit marks a unique moment in the project's history, bringing Shuar representatives and UK curatorial teams together for the first time to see and discuss collections in-person, including tsantsas (also known as shrunken heads) and hundreds of other Shuar objects in UK collections. 

The visit will include collection viewings, workshops and sessions designed to shape the future care and understanding of these cultural materials. This public event will conclude the visit and will be a significant opportunity for the public and media to engage with Shuar perspectives on these collections and the collaborative work of the project.

Programme (Talks & timings may change)

14:00-14:15 - Prof. Laura Van Broekhoven: Welcome and Introduction

14:15-14:30 - Prof. Maria Patricia Ordoñez :  Update on Proyecto Tsantsa 

14:30-14:45 - David Tankamash - President of the Federación Interprovincial Centros Shuar 

14:45-15:00 - Jefferson Pullaguari  - President of the Federación Shuar de Zamora Chinchipe 

15:00-15:25 - Presentation of Statement on Next Steps / Panel discussion

15:25-16:00: Q&A

All welcome.

Find out more about Proyecto Tsantsa here.