Human trophy collecting


The practice of human trophy collecting involves the acquisition of human remains. The intent may be to demonstrate dominance over the deceased, such as scalp-taking or forming necklaces of human ears or teeth, or to commemorate the deceased, such as the veneration of the relics of saints. It can be done to prove one's success in battle, or to show off one's power to others. Murderers' collection of their victims' body parts have also been described as a form of trophy-taking; the FBI draws a distinction between souvenirs and trophies in this regard.
While older customs generally included the burial of human war trophies along with the collector, such items have been sold in modern times.

Trophies of dominance

In North America, it was common practice before, during or after the lynching of African-Americans for white people involved to take souvenirs such as body parts, skin, bones, etc.
Trophies were also acquired during conquest of indigenous lands by settlers. For example, the scalp, skull, and wristbones of Little Crow, a Dakota commander during the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862 who died in its aftermath, were obtained and displayed for decades at the Minnesota Historical Society, an institution originally established by the government of the Minnesota Territory.

Trophies of commemoration

Well, these white guys would sometimes take the dog-tag chain and fill that up with ears. For different reasons. They would take the ear off to make sure the VC was dead. And to confirm that they had a kill. And to put some notches on they guns.
If we were movin' through the jungle, they'd just put the bloody ear on the chain and stick the ear in their pocket and keep on going. Wouldn't take time to dry it off. Then when we get back, they would nail 'em up on the walls to our hootch, you know, as a trophy. They was rotten and stinkin' after awhile, and finally we make 'em take 'em down.

Body-snatching

may sometimes be conducted in order to retain a body part as a trophy.