Head Hunting

Synopsis

The history of human decapitation, featuring the story of two British engineers beheaded by rebels in modern Russia and the psychological and religious implications of contemporary headhunting in Borneo. The Forbidden Rites trilogy explores cannibalism, head hunting and human sacrifice. This series includes first-hand accounts, expert interviews, and rarely seen footage. It reveals the legends behind man-eating tribes, headhunters in jungles of Ecuador and sheds light on the link between human sacrifice and salvation. The series looks at rituals considered important and acceptable to one society but regarded, particularly in the West, as unacceptable and even abhorrent. The aim is to look at the differences and get explanations from practitioners in other societies as to why such rituals worked for them.