Certain indigenous groups within the Amazon basin have, throughout history, been associated with practices involving the consumption of human flesh. These practices, often referred to in anthropological literature, have varied in purpose and execution, ranging from ritualistic acts connected to mourning or acquiring the deceased’s qualities, to survival strategies in extreme circumstances. Accounts of these practices have surfaced from explorers, missionaries, and later, anthropologists who documented their interactions with these communities.
The historical significance of understanding these customs lies in the insight they offer into the complexities of human belief systems, social structures, and adaptation strategies within challenging environments. Analyzing these accounts allows researchers to explore the motivations behind such behaviors, differentiating between survival cannibalism, endocannibalism (consuming members of one’s own group), and exocannibalism (consuming members of outside groups). This understanding challenges ethnocentric perspectives and promotes a more nuanced view of human cultural diversity and resilience.