The oldest known tattoos were discovered on the remains of a person who lived in the Italian Alps around 3000 B.C. Recently, a multidisciplinary team of scientists uncovered remarkably intricate tattoos on the mummified remains of individuals from the Chancay culture, who inhabited Peru about 1200 years ago. These tattoos bear a striking resemblance to modern examples of this art form, created using cutting-edge technology.
It remains unclear how these complex images were crafted on the bodies of ancient people. However, researchers noted that the skill involved in these tattoos rivals that of high-quality electric tattoos seen today.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
Using techniques typically employed for analyzing dinosaur fossils, the team examined the intricate tattooing methods found on the Peruvian mummies.
“Laser-stimulated fluorescence (LSF) allows us to see the tattoos in all their glory, erasing centuries of degradation,” said paleontologist Thomas Kay from the U.S. Science Advancement Fund.
He also remarked, “The Chancay culture, known for its mass textile production, invested significant effort into developing body art. This may indicate that tattoos served as a second important avenue in art, possibly holding deep cultural or spiritual significance.”
In cases where skin is preserved through mummification, tattoos can become difficult to discern. The skin darkens and thickens, while the ink fades and seeps into surrounding tissues.
This is where Thomas Kay and his colleague, paleobiologist Michael Pittman from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, come into play. Over the past decade, the duo has utilized LSF to uncover hidden details in dinosaur soft tissues.
“Two years ago, Judith Bok from the Archaeology Institute at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, approached us with the question of whether our technology could be used to study tattoos on mummified human remains,” Pittman shared with Science Alert.
Judith was referring specifically to the tattoos found on the mummies in Peru. Just a few months later, Kay and Pittman were on a plane to South America, eager to uncover astonishing insights about Chancay culture.
The researchers examined over 100 mummies. Not all of them had tattoos, but in those where designs were preserved, the skin exhibited a bright fluorescence under laser stimulation. Notably, this effect was absent in the tattooed areas.
The team produced high-contrast images that completely eliminated visible ink bleeding, further highlighting the artistry of the designs. Lines measuring 0.1 to 0.2 millimeters in width indicated that ancient artisans applied tattoos using a single needle, rather than through cuts and rubbing in dye, as was previously believed.
“We still don’t know exactly how the tattoos were made, but it involved a tip thinner than a modern tattoo needle,” Pittman noted. Most likely, “the Chancay people used a cactus needle or a sharpened animal bone,” he suggested.
The team observed variations in the complexity and quality of the tattoos. Some designs were applied by novices, while more intricate images were created by seasoned masters.
Now, the researchers plan to expand their studies to ancient tattoos worldwide. This will enable the team to shed light on various tattooing technologies and the reasons our ancestors adorned their bodies.
“Tattoos can contain a wealth of information, including insights into culture and what was significant to the person with the tattoo,” Pittman explained.
The findings of the study were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.