Ancient tattoos

By infusing dye under the skin, tattooing produces designs on the face and body that are known
as tattoos. Some anthropologists believe that painting the body and face led to the development
of the practice. It might be done for aesthetic purposes, as a sign of social standing, or to secure
magical protection. There are numerous tattooing techniques. Tattoo artists in the Pacific
Islands utilize a black pigment produced from soot that has been blended with water, oil, and
occasionally vegetable juice. In order to continuously push the row of points through the skin,
the tattoo artist follows an outline drawn on the skin by hitting the rear of a comb-like
arrangement of thorns or bone. Before tapping, the comb can be dipped in the dye, or the
coloring material can be applied directly to newly formed wounds. The pain is not severe since
the points do not pierce deeply. The designs are irreversible once applied, and errors cannot be
fixed. In pre-industrial communities, the procedure is occasionally conducted with group
chanting and dance that is intended to bolster the sufferer. A skilled tattoo artist is typically a
guy of great position who is well compensated for his talent.

Maori warriors in New Zealand once had their tattoos applied using a special procedure. The
faces of the warriors were uniquely marked by specialized painters known as tohunga, who
applied the dye into lines that had been carved into the skin rather than punctures, creating
unique combinations of curves and spirals. The pattern evolved to become a significant indicator
of a man's identity.

The tattooing technique employed by Inuit (Eskimo) women in the Canadian Arctic resembled
stitching. The Yakut tribe of Siberia has been reported to make lines on the chin to indicate
marriageable age by pulling a blackened thread through the skin with a bone needle. However,
other techniques have been used to produce similar effects. When two members of this tribe
were displayed to the Russian court in 1733, the designs on their faces were referred to as "sewn
faces" because they looked like stitches.

Tattoo artists in Europe and North America in the 20th and 21st centuries utilized an electrically
propelled needle. Some areas have outlawed this device out of concern that using the needle
could spread diseases like hepatitis B.