Sexual surrender to head-hunters or as temple servants provided a means of redemption for women in ancient times, rooted in the connection between primitive worship and human sacrifice. [1] Head-hunting was a method of capturing enemies' souls, believed by some to reside in the bodily fat or eyes. [2] Belief in skull fetishes led to the practice of head-hunting, with human body parts such as nails and umbilical cords considered powerful fetishes. [3] The custom of creating slaves out of murderers’ ghosts motivated men to become head-hunters. [4] Head-hunters, practicing skull worship, served as scapemen to redeem primitive man in debt to spirits for original sin. [5]
Winners of athletic contests among head-hunters were awarded the first prize of choosing a bride, with marriage requiring possession of a head, which could be bought, or won through riddle contests. [6]