The Origins of tattooing

Tattooing has been around pretty much since we have. Otzi the Iceman is our oldest tattooed mummy, clocking in at an impressive 5,300 years old. He was discovered in the Alps in 1991, frozen in a glacier, and has over 60 small markings tattooed on his skin, which were likely made with soot using a stick-and-poke method. Some researchers think they were meant for pain relief!

Around the world, cultures developed their own traditions and rituals over the course of history. Polynesian communities created bold tattoos with a distinctive style that told stories of family and status. Egyptians believed tattoos gave spiritual protection. Sailors of many lands carried their tattoos across the oceans, spreading the art (among other things… eek) wherever they docked.

Styles and reasons for tattoos have changed throughout time and different cultures, but one thing remains true: people love to mark their bodies with artwork that matters to them. And whether it matters because it’s meaningful, or just because it’s beautiful, tattoos are a deeply personal journey that our ancestors also took.