Editing Scalping (section)

===Techniques===
Specific scalping techniques varied somewhat from place to place, depending on the cultural patterns of the scalper regarding the desired shape, size, and intended use of the severed scalp, and on how the victims wore their hair, but the general process of scalping was quite uniform:<blockquote>They seize the head of the disabled or dead enemy, and placing one of their feet on the neck, twist their left hand in the hair; by this means, having extended the skin that covers the top of the head, they draw out their scalping knives, which are always kept in good order for this cruel purpose, and with a few dextrous strokes take off the part that is termed the scalp. They are so expeditious in doing this, that the whole time required scarcely exceeds a minute.<ref>[[Jonathan Carver]], ''Travels Through the Interior Parts of North America, in the Years 1766, 1767 and 1768'' ([[John Coakley Lettsom]], ed.), [https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/49753/pg49753-images.html#Page_328 pp.328-329], (3d ed., London, 1781) (retrieved May 5, 2024).</ref></blockquote>The scalp separated from the skull along the plane of the [[Loose connective tissue#Areolar tissue|areolar connective tissue]], the fourth (and least substantial) of the five layers of the human scalp. Scalping was not in itself fatal, though it was most commonly inflicted on the gravely wounded or the dead. The earliest instruments used in scalping were stone knives crafted of [[flint]], [[chert]], or [[obsidian]], or other materials like [[Reed (plant)|reeds]] or [[oyster]] shells that could be worked to carry an edge equal to the task. Collectively, such tools were also used for a variety of everyday tasks like skinning and processing game, but were replaced by metal knives acquired in trade through European contact. The implement, often referred to as a "scalping knife" in popular [[American literature|American]] and European literature, was not known as such by [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], a knife being for them just a simple and effective multi-purpose utility tool for which scalping was but one of many uses.<ref>{{cite book|author=Burton, Richard F. |title=Anthropological Review, Vol. 2, No. 4 |date=February 1864|pages= 50–51}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author1=((Griffin, Anastasia M. (editor)))|date=2008|author2=Friederici, Georg|title=Scalping and Similar Warfare Customs in America|isbn=9780549562092|pages= 63–70}}</ref>