If I told you that tattooing is older than all the pyramids in the world, would you believe me? Well, this practice is indeed ancient and has been passed down through different cultures for generations until our days. I can’t say for certain if your parents would have been furious if you secretly got a tattoo or did so while under the influence in 3000 BCE. But let’s not dwell on that; instead, let’s delve into the ins and outs of tattooing. Did it hold meaning and significance? What were tattoos techniques that ancient civilizations used? And how can we uncover them? Maybe archaeology can shed light on these questions through research, studies, and discoveries since at least two centuries. 

The word tattoo has come a long way to reach us… Stories from British explorers like James Cook have given us the name “tattow” for this practice, based on his observations in 1769 of the drawing worn by Polynesians tribes on their body. “Tattow” come from the Tahitian term “tatau” which can be translated as “mark” or “hit”. When we break down the word, the prefix “ta” means “skin drawing” and “atua” means “spirit’. “Tattow” come in the British language and eventually became the word we know as “tattoo”. 

Today, and in the past, tattooing is a practice that consists of applying various types of inks and pigments on the skin to imprint a design on the human body. Tattoo artists employ traditional techniques such as hand-tapped or modern tattoo machines. However, there are several different techniques and styles within this field, allowing artists to express themselves and individuals to choose something they truly like. 

The various styles of tattoo have existed across the world for several thousand years and have been carried on by different cultures. For instance, in Polynesia, tattooing is a symbolic art; while Celtic tattoos have a rich history that extends from ancient times to the present day. In the Balkans, a tattoo style has existed since antiquity and persists from one generation to another, but I will elaborate on this example later. Throughout history, the act of tattooing has served multiple purposes, including decoration, protection, ritual passage, recovery, individual or group identification. 

One of the primary questions that intrigued me was how we can discover traces of this ancient practice. Fortunately, I have found the answer and I would like to share it with you. Evidence of tattooing has been unearthed in various forms. One of them is mummification, where human remains preserve the proof of tattoos on bones or skin. Moreover, iconographic representations of tattoos showed us evidence about this ancient artwork. Finally, material remains, such as tools used for tattooing, provide valuable clues.

Archaeologists have discovered remains and evidence of this practice everywhere around the world, across every continent. The preservation of these remains depends on various factors, including the region and the conditions in which they were found. For example, mummification relies on specific climates, either extremely dry or very cold, to preserve it. Such as figurines and tools made from animal bones, a good composition of the floor as well of the preservation after, are the most important to determine and study these artifacts. 

One of the most interesting discoveries in the realm of ancient tattoos is the preserved body of Otzi, a mummy discovered in the Alps in 1991. Archaeologists found him in the ice, and identified 61 tattoos, primarily on his back and legs, dating back over 5300 years. The studies have shed light on the fact that these tattoos could be an early form of acupuncture, and may have served therapeutic purposes. Analysis has shown us that tattoos were placed on specific areas on his body corresponding to medical issues he had, such as fractures in his legs. We can assume that tattoos were perhaps a way to help him in his recovery. Archaeological discoveries in the region of Peru and Chile, have shown a lot of mummies with tattoos, leading archaeologists to estimate that around 30% of the population in these areas had a tattoo. One of these mummies, predating the discovery of Otzi by over 5000 years, was found with body modification in the form of a tattoo. Surprisingly, the tattoo was a mustache. Yes, you read that correctly, a mustache tattoo! 

Regarding the remains of tools for tattooing, it’s more difficult to affirm that it was used for this practice. Yet, in South Africa, bones polished with pigments have been unearthed, dating back between 76,000- and 84,000-years BCE. They could be the oldest proof of tattooing in the world, but for now, it remains a hypothesis. 

Since I am in Macedonia, I wanted to explore the expansion of tattooing over the years in this region. Once again, archaeology holds the answers we seek. Tattooing in the Mediterranean can be traced back to at least the fourth millennium BCE, and in ancient Balkans, the Illyrians and Thracians were a known population that practiced body modification, like tattoos. The Thracian abandoned this practice, with the social signification and group identification, several hundred years before the Roman era. In contrast, tattooing remained an integral element of the Illyrian identity, surviving until this day in the customs of the people of the western Balkans. The meaning behind these tattoos could be, religious or ritualistic, as passage to adulthood or marriage ceremonies. 

One widespread custom in Bosnia and Herzegovina was the “Sicanje” which means “to prick”, practiced more by women and girls. It represented a Catholic symbol, identifying them with this religious group. Determining the exact origins of this practice is challenging, but “Sicanje” has solidified its place in Balkans’ tradition long enough to have been there for several centuries. 

After delving into the rich history and cultural significance of tattoos, you might find yourself tempted to book a tattoo appointment tomorrow. The art of tattooing serves as a witness to ancient civilizations, with its ancient symbols, or the purposes to have them, it’s a testament on our imprint on Earth. So are you ready to join the Inked Journey? 

Chloé Le Cair

Sources:

Ötzi, le plus ancien homme tatoué connu – L’OBS

Comment le tatouage est arrivé en Occident? – France Culture