the Awajún people
History
Our farmers, the Awajún people, are an ancient native culture that has been living over several centuries in the Peruvian Amazon Region far from western civilization.
Their belief regarding the origin of the world lies in the existence of a spiritual world that encompasses all aspects of their lives.
These are found in myths and stories transmitted from one generation to the next through several centuries of their secluded existence. They have developed expertise regarding all types of plants including those that are medicinal and hallucinogen. They have been making use of hallucinogenic plants to help them get in touch with their concept of a spiritual world.
One of the ancient ceremonies and practices of the Awajún people consisted in the reduction of the heads of enemies during conflicts with other tribes, once the enemy was captured, he would be sacrificed and his head would be chopped off and carried on the tip of a sword. Subsequently, the preparation of the head would take place. This practice included carefully retrieving the scull and maintaining only the skin and hair which would be then boiled for about half an hour and subsequently filled with hot pebbles in order to dry the reduced head. The entire process was performed with great care in order for the reduced head to maintain as much as possible a similarity with the original head. This ceremony was done to prevent the spirit of the victim from taking revenge on the executor.
Currently the Awajún people has more contact with the outside world and has been exposed to Western civilization. Any visitor to their region need not fear having their head chopped off and reduced.
Marañón River Basin
The Marañón basin is the 7th largest within the Amazon region, with an area that comprises 358,000 km2. There is a great quantity of flora and fauna species that are endemic to this region due to its relative seclusion.
It is located near the equator where water streams from the northern and southern hemisphere merge.
The majority of Amazon rivers flow from west to east, starting in the Andes towards the Amazon plains. Nevertheless, the initial stage of the Marañón river flows from south to north, dividing the Andes mountains into two chains, after which its course changes direction by 90 degrees as it flows at great speeds through a strait called “Pongo de Manseriche”, until it reaches the Amazon plains. Its waters carry unique sediments and nutrients that are particular to the Amazon basin.