


This tattoo was used to warn other members of society that this person could not be trusted. It is also thought to have been fairly common for convicted criminals to be branded with a tattoo on their face. Let’s take a closer look at some of these civilizations and some theories about why they used to tattoo themselves.Īncient Chinese literature refers to folk heroes and bandits as having tattoos. These theories reflect the location and the cultures of the civilizations themselves. Ancient and Traditional PracticesĪs the first tattoos date back to ancient civilizations, the reasons behind the newly-seen skin tattoos are fuelled by different theories. All of these discoveries link to different periods of time throughout ancient history. Locations where tattooing practices have been recorded on human remains, include: Alaska, Mongolia, Greenland, Egypt, China, Sudan, Russia, and the Philippines. There is evidence of this from over 49 different locations around the world, where tattooed mummies and remains have been discovered. While Otzi may be evidence of the first tattoos known to mankind, other eras and ages throughout history reveal a long and rich history of tattooing. Close examination of the markings on the mummy indicate that soot or fireplace ash were used to create the tattoos. Otzi’s body has a total of 61 tattoos in various different locations, with the majority of these ink inscriptions located on his legs.
