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Start Over Culture or time period Polynesian cultures Taxon Nautilus pompilius
Hearst Museum object titled Girl's hair headdress, accession number 11-483, described as The human hair headdress (tuinga lau ulu) is a Samoan mark of status worn on important occasions by the village virgin (taupou) or the son of the high chief (manaia). Hair is obtained from healthy girls of good family and bleached by treatment with saltwater and sun. The hair, tied into tufts, is strung into cords; a typical headdress has about 140 tufts. A framework (lave) of sticks, feathers and mirrors (modern substitutes for shells) is mounted at the front of the headdress above two forehead bands (pale fuiono) of Nautilus pompilius shells. The headdress fits tightly over a cap of tapa cloth, and is said to cause great discomfort to the wearer.
Hearst Museum object titled Headband, accession number 11-1082, described as Headband of nautilus chambers and nuclei.

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