Philippines: Stairway To Heaven 14 Headhunting Expeditions

 
In many places, entire headhunting expeditions were organized, and in some places entire populations of smaller islands disappeared.

Text & Photos: Janin Klemenčič (to be continued)

Philippines: Stairway To Heaven 13

 
According to some, in remote places it has not died out to this day, despite the harsh punishments imposed by the colonizers and despite missionary work.

Text & Photos: Janin Klemenčič (to be continued)

Philippines: Stairway To Heaven 12

 
From these skull cults, in many places in Melanesia - in the Solomon Islands, the New Hebrides, New Guinea and the Philippines - the gruesome custom of headhunting and cannibalism developed, which in some places persisted until the 1950s.

Text & Photos: Janin Klemenčič (to be continued)

Philippines: Stairway To Heaven 11

 Headhunters

In some places, the hair is left on the skulls, and the flesh from the face is removed and replaced with a clay face.

Elsewhere, the entire head is smoked and the face is covered with pitch to preserve the features.

Text & Photos: Janin Klemenčič (to be continued)