History of Tattoos

    Tahitian “tatu” means “to mark something,” this is how the word tattoo came about. Tattoos or making of the body has been dated back since 3000 B.C. Marking of the body was a way to of culture, shows of crime, remembering, health, death, social status, and even just a story. Look around to the tattoos today, how do the tattoos compare to the tattoos art and meaning to the tattoos from 3000 B.C.  
    Instruments used dated c. 3000 B.C. were a sharp wooden handle tool with a sharp point at the top. Archaeologies have even found “small bronze instruments c. 1450 B.C. resembling wide, flattened needles”(Lineberry, Smithsonian.com January 01, 2007). The instruments in the 19th century resemble current tattooing instruments, with several tiny needles together. A writer “William Lane observed” a tattooing, “the operation is performed with several needles (generally seven) tied together: with theses the skin is pricked in a desired patter: some smoke black )of wood or oil), Mixed with milk from the breast of a woman, is rubbed in…. It is generally performed at the age of about 5 or 6 years, and by gipsy – women” (Lineberry, Smithsonian.con, January 01, 2007). “1891 Smauel O’Rtiely patented the first electric tattooing machine”( Brief History of Tattoos, August 17, 2008).
    Since 1891 when the electric tattooing machine was patented, there truly has not been any change to the tattooing instrument. Today tattoo artist still use the same basic style of machine. Tattoo artist will dip the needles into ink before scaring the body with the ink. This moves the ink into two or three layers of skin. The artist may use colors of ink for the art work picked out by the client receiving the tattoo.

    The most spoke of Mummy “Iceman.” He is to be reported around 5,500 years old. He was found   between Austria and Italy in the Tyrolean Alps in1991. Iceman, “Oetzi,” is the “oldest known human to have medicinal tattoos preserved upon his mummified... [continues]

Read full essay

Cite This Essay

APA

(2008, 12). History of Tattos. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 12, 2008, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/History-Tattos-186722.html

MLA

"History of Tattos" StudyMode.com. 12 2008. 12 2008 <http://www.studymode.com/essays/History-Tattos-186722.html>.

CHICAGO

"History of Tattos." StudyMode.com. 12, 2008. Accessed 12, 2008. http://www.studymode.com/essays/History-Tattos-186722.html.