Traditional tattoos are typically saved when skin has been mummified or preserved in ice or peat, but nobody knows for certain when the 1st tattoo was inked.
This blog post is written to take you on a fast trip around the planet looking at some engaging facts about the genesis of tattoo designs.
The Pacific Islands
It is thought that the word tattoo originated from the Tahitian word tatau, meaning ‘to mark’.
Maori men tattooed their faces with ferocious looking patterns and Maori ladies tattooed their lips and chins and were an indication of beauty. These tattoos are caved into the flesh using a bone chisel, and ink is then placed in the cuts. Recently Maori tattoos have become popular in the tattoo world.
In Samoa the tattoo marks the ability to bear discomfort and is still true today.
Tattooing in Japan is thought to go back some 10,000 years, with probably the most recognizable (and probably the loveliest and complicated) type of Japanese body art is associated with the organized crime group the Yakuza.
Central and South America
There is evidence showing that before the arrival of the Spanish in Central and South America that tattoos and body painting was widespread and mostly utilised for social and spiritual purposes (instead of just ornamental). The appearance of the Spanish marked the beginning of a quick decline and termination of many indigenous cultures, taking with them the awareness of how these looked and how they were applied.
Central and South Africa
Tribal tattoos designs were historically applied using a the technique of marking out the design on the skin with series of black dots, which works less well on darker skins. This could say why tribal tattoos are not as common as in Central and South African cultures. Instead of tattoos “skin painting and scarification is widely used as a technique of decorating the body.
Europe
The remains of tzi the Iceman were found entombed in a glacier in the Italian/Austrian Alps and have been dated back some 5,000 years shows that he had about 57 carbon tattoos composed from easy dots and lines on his lower backbone, on his right ankle and behind his left knee.
Tattooing in Europe has obviously been around for thousands of years (as shown on tzi the Iceman), although it was accepted that Captain Cook ‘re-introduced ‘ tattooing back into Europe after his expedition round the Pacific in 1769. Many sailors returned bearing permanent keepsakes on their bodies. Since the return of this voyage, tattoos have been associated with life on the sea.
Tribal Tattoos Designs
Tribal Tattoos Designs vary considerably in terms of their design and style, however they mostly use huge areas of solid black called ‘blackwork ‘
Below are a few links to other websites which, if you're looking for tribal tattoo designs or forearm tattoo designs would be the best place to begin looking (please note we may get a commission if you purchase anything from these sites).
Learn more about tattoos at sleeve tattoosand japanese tattooos