Ancient History

We have studied the history of our species through remnants left behind by past cultures. One of the oldest artifacts we've found that could indicate tattoos being present in a culture is a group of human figurines that were found in northeastern Romania. These figurines had designs carved into them, which some debate might suggest tattoos played a part in this ancient culture. The figurines were dated and identified as coming from the Cucuteni culture from approximately 4800 to 3000 B.C.

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We've also uncovered mummified human remains that bore inked designs. One such case is Otzi the Iceman, whose body was found in the Italian Apls and dated back approximately 5,000 years. Otzi's tattoos, as opposed to being an aesthetic choice, are thought to have served a therapeutic purpose in treating joint and body pain due to their placements on the body and the body's condition. 

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Over time, we have found evidence similar to these across the globe and from different points in history. The purposes we perceive the tattoos serve also vary across cultures; some seem to serve as a tribute to gods or similar spiritual practices, others seem to be involved in coming-of-age ceremonies, and others seem purely aesthetic. The actual tattoos very widely, both in composition and what parts of the body they're focused on. 

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What we can take away from this information is the history of tattooing as an art form and tradition spans back many years and took on a variety of meanings depending on the culture.