My search of where it all began
Tattooing is so extremely popular now that most people know someone or possibly have their own tattoo. It is a very interesting and artistic art form marking your skin permanently with ink.
Because of its popularity and my own interest in getting one or more tattoos I decided to do some research and find out where it all began and here is what I found out.
I thought my findings were going to be boring and that I would end up not really caring about where it all began but was pleasantly surprised with what I found in my search.
Tattooing as we know it or a form similar has been practiced for over 5200 years. Up until 1991 it was assumed that the Egyptians were the oldest humans to ink themselves.
There are Egyptian mummies dating back to 2000 B.C that have tattoos which like I said until 1991 we thought those were the oldest tattoos on earth.
Tattoos have been around longer than first thought
Well in 1991 Otzi the Iceman was discovered in the Otz valley in the Alps. The condition of the body was remarkable.
Upon investigation it was found that Otzi had somewhere around 57 tattoos on him. There is much speculation as to the meaning of the tattoos on Otzi but it doesnt really matter because we will never know.
What you need to know is that as far as humans today are concerned is that tattoos were being done at least 5200 years ago. Wow thats incredible.
Japan claims however to of been inking their skin for over ten thousand years dating back to the Palaeolithic era. Without physical evidence though Otzi is the oldest proof we have so sorry Japan.
Tattoos are so old that they were being created at one time before we knew about ink.
Yes thats right, at one time in history some tribes would create a tattoo by rubbing ashes into a cut in the skin. The next advancement in tattoo making was pricking the skin and then inserting dyes.
Polynesian influence
The western world can thank Polynesia as the Polynesian people and their tattoos had a huge influence on the origins of tattooing in the new world.
The Polynesian way of tattooing first became popular with a lot of European sailors and explorers before spreading to the new world.
Just about everyone in Polynesian society was tattooed as tattooing was a way of expressing someones personality and identity. The tattoos would most often show someones status or rank within their own society.
There you have it, a quick look at the history of tattoos. Of course there is much more to the history of tattoos.
A person could go on and on regarding Egyptian tattoos but I hope I have given you a good start in learning even just a little bit about the history of tattoos.
Tattoos are so popular and can mean something different in every corner of the world.
They have been a part of human history for thousands of years and I am sure will be around for thousands more, being popular till the end of time.
