A brief History

What was the first tattoo and how did it get so popular?

The word 'Tattoo' originates from the Tahitian word 'Tattau' which means 'To Mark'

Some Scientists believe that the earliest known evidence of tattooing dates back to markings found on the skin of the study 'Ice man'. A mummified human body that dates back as far as 3300 B.C. His lower back, ankles, knees and foot were marked with a series of small lines, made by rubbing charcoal into vertical cuts. x-rays revealed bone degeneration at the side of each tattoo, leading researchers to believe that Otzi's people, ancestors of contemporary central and Northern Europeans may have used tattoos as medical treatment to reduce pain.

Later on tattoos were found on Egyptian and Nubian mummies dating from about 2000 B.C. Tattooing was custom in Egypt during the third and fourth Dynasties whilst the pyramids of Gizeh were being built, Evidence found in Archaeological and anthropological digs suggest that the Egyptians had already started the process of tattooing using needles.

Amunet, who was the priestess of the goddess Hathor at Thebes during the 11th dynasty was another tattooed Egyptian. The mummy was very well preserved and had parallel lines tattooed on the arms and thighs, as well as an elliptical design below her navel.

Tattooing was rediscovered by the Europeans when they came into contact with Polynesians and American Indians through their explorations. At the time tattoos were considered so exotic in Europe and U.S. societies, The tattooed amazed crowds at circuses and fairs during the 18th and 19th centuries.

The practice of tattooing has different meanings to various cultures. Decoration was the most common motive for tattooing and that still holds true today.

The last tattooed women of the dulong people

'The Dulong people have two main folk explanations for their practice of facial tattooing - the first is that it was a practice undertaken in resistance to other ethnic groups to prevent chieftains and landowners from kidnapping young girls and making them slaves, the second explanation is that their faces are tattooed for cosmetic purposes that the Dulong people use the procedure to beautify members in their own society'

Now there are only Forty Dulong Women left in the world who have traditional face tattoos. The oldest is over one hundred years old and the youngest is fifty-three, their average life span is 73 years.

'In the future, as these tattooed women gradually depart from the Earth, their unique custom of facial tattooing will disappear from the world forever.'

In some cultures tattoos served as Identification of the wearers rank or status within a group.

For instance the early Romans tattooed slaves and criminals, Tahitian tattoos served as rites of passage, telling the history of he wearers life.

Moving on to the 1900's, The early Americans received tattooing from Polynesian immigrants although today it is widely believed that the art in the US came to them from sailors who had traveled around exotic places and brought back tattoos as memories of their voyages.

Whereas today we practice tattooing in most countries with ancient method styles and art.

With millions of tattoo shops world wide and a dramatic increase in body art obtained yearly, leaves us all with one question on our lips... What is the next step for tattooing/tattoo art?