Mankurt is the unconscious slave mentioned in Turkic, Altai and Kyrgyz legends. This method, which has its origins in Central Asia, is called “mankurtization”. First, the head of the person to be turned into a dummy is shaved, then a wet camel skin is wrapped around his head and left under the sun with his hands and arms tied. The camel skin is stretched as it dries. The stretched skin squeezes the head like a vice and causes incredible pain, causing the person to lose his or her mind. Such a person becomes a slave, unconscious and unquestioningly doing whatever is asked of him.
