Believe it or not, tattoos are nothing new. Although, they may have become more commonplace in recent years our generation is definitely not the first to bare tattoos. In fact mummified bodies that date back to around 3000 B.C. have been found with marks on their bones that indicate that they had tattoos.
The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word "tattau". This word literally means "To mark" which makes sense considering that a tattoo involves marks on the skin. In the 18th and 19th century Tattoos were rediscovered by Europeans when during their explorations they came across the Polynesians and American Indians who bore tattoos. At this time tattoos were very uncommon in Europe and the United States where they were amazed by the Polynesians and Indians who were covered in tattoos.
If you are considering getting a tattoo, you probably have your own reasons for wanting one. You might think of it as a sign of independence or a work of art. Whatever your reason, it is your personal choice but that wasn't always the case. While the first tattoos may have been purely decorative in nature this wasn't always the case. Early Romans practiced tattooing as a type of classification system. Slaves and criminals in particular were tattooed with a symbol to make others aware of their status. In Tahiti, tattoos were considered a tribal rite symbolizing the journey of your life. Today tattoos have somewhat returned to their earliest uses. Most people who get a tattoo today do so purely for decorative reasons.
Not only have the reasons for tattoos changed through the ages but the methods have changed as well. Pricking was one of the first methods used by Native Americans. Later on a few tribes in California modified the process by using scratches to add color. Polynesians used a small rake like tool to inject pigment into the skin to create their tattoos. The Maoris actually carved into the skin to create colored grooves. Today tattoos are created by puncturing the skin and injecting pigment with a needle. This style of tattooing is similar to the process used by the Europeans.
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