A Brief History?

The following text outlines the history of tattoos in general.

Tattoos are almost as old as mankind. It is believed that the first tattooing happened accidentally, with people falling or stepping into pigment-carrying, sharp instruments or materials, like e.g. sharp, charcoaled branches from leftover fireplaces or wooden spears/arrowheads hardened in fire. This tends to leave trapped pigment in the dermis, such accidents are by the way the major reason for pigment removal research even in our days. It is easy to see why people would make the connection and survival of bad wounds may even have helped the magical or religious meaning of tattoos into existence.

The current first proven incident of a tattoo dates back 4,000 years B.C. a traveller was found in Italy near Austria, preserved in the permafrost of a glacier. Carbon dating and arte facts found near him suggest that he is over 5,300 years old. The skin bears a cross behind one knee and a series of lines above his kidneys. This has given rise to the speculation that the man was a shaman or otherwise holy member of his clan, as for millennia tattoos were reserved in many if not most cultures to members of the castes of priest or secret sects.

Ancient Egyptian mummies, as well as clay figurines bear tattoos, this dates to between 4,000 and 3,000 years old. The tattoos were applied by puncture with a needle or other sharp instrument steeped in pigment, much like the prisoner tattoos of later times. The practice travelled from Egypt across the world, Egypt - an empire with traffic into most countries it bordered - was in contact with Greece, Persia, Central Asia and Arabia and spread tattoos along the main merchant routes. From Southern China the practice spread along the silk route. The Ainu, western Asian nomads brought tattooing to Japan when they crossed over to the Japanese islands, for them tattoos firmly belong to the realm of religion and magic. The Japanese themselves rejected the religious meaning of tattoos, and turned towards the graphical and ornamental of the practice. To the day the technique and style of Japanese tattooists stands out in design and craft. From Japan, tattoos spread to the Philippines and Pacific Islands.

The Polynesians carried the tattoo culture across the Pacific Islands to New Zealand and are probably responsible for the largest dissemination of the practice. Their style still survives among the Maoris and the inhabitants of some of the Pacific Islands, strict regulations and ceremonies accompany the procedure. Tattooing travelled to America either via the large Polynesian migration, or across the northern land/ice bridge with Siberian tribes who learned tattooing from the Ainu. Mayas, Incas and Aztecs tattooed and the practice had an important role in their religious rituals.

The fact that the European cadaver mentioned above is older than any Egyptian source may or may not put a different light on where tattoos originated, but the Iberians, who preceded the Celtic tribes, wore tattoos. The Gauls, Teutonic tribles, the Picts and Greek tattooed, the Romans branded or tattooed criminals and slaves. Invaders (Norseman, Saxons, etc.) brought more refined and artistic tattoos to the British Isles.

It was usual for warriors and sailors to have their tribal symbols tattooed. This usage still survives with some aristocratic families. Pope Hadrian banned this as a barbaric custom in the 8th century. For roughly 4 centuries after that there was no mention of tattooing, and because of the interdiction ordained by Rome, the warriors remained untattooed. After the Norman invasion there was little evidence of tattooing in Europe until much later. Captain Cook brought news of the practice and the word to Europe after seeing tattoos performed 1771 in Tahiti. Cook refers to the operation called "tattaw", using for the first time the word "tattawing", before tattooing has been called painting or staining.

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