When did humans first get tattoos?

Discover the ancient history of tattoos dating back over 5,300 years, from therapeutic purposes to modern artistic expression.

The side-eye glances and judgemental looks have been long associated with the art of tattooing; however, most of us are not aware that the practice has been around for more than 5,300 years (around 3300 BCE). From ancient civilisations that have shone light upon inking tools to well-preserved ancient mummies with symbols tattooed, the history of tattoos goes beyond geographical borders, cultures, and generations. In the modern era, tattoos often symbolise a story, a liking towards a design, or sometimes a cultural tradition. However, stepping back in time, tattoos are believed to have had a much deeper meaning to represent status, hierarchies, and even careers. They are also believed to have had therapeutic purposes rather than mere decoration on one’s skin. A typical example of the same is the earliest known evidence of tattoos to date—the tattoos of Ötzi the Iceman.

In September 1991, two German tourists, Helmut and Erika Simon, stumbled upon a body half-frozen in ice in the Ötztal Alps on the Austrian-Italian border. After multiple trials, the body was salvaged and examined. The examination revealed that the human remains are of an individual who died more than 4000 years ago. This natural mummy was named Ötzi the Iceman and, much later, was found to be close to 5,300 years old.

His body had more than 60 tattoos, primarily consisting of simple dots and lines. It is believed that they might have been created for therapeutic purposes due to their positions near joints and the back. These findings also suggest that tattooing was practiced in prehistoric societies possibly for medical or mystical reasons.

Apart from Ötzi, ancient Egyptian mummies, some dating back to 2000 BCE, have also been discovered with tattoos. These tattoos often depicted religious symbols and protective motifs as well as hinting at spiritual, social, and medicinal significance to the art. By the 19th and early 20th centuries, tattoos began to be popular in the West, and the invention of the electric tattoo machine in the 1890s revolutionised tattooing, making it more accessible and efficient.

Today, tattooing has also become a professional industry, with strict hygiene regulations and technological advancements enhancing the practice, and tattoos are recognised as a legitimate form of artistic expression, with various styles of the same gaining global popularity.

niranjana.ps@thehindu.co.in