From the Samoan word ‘tatau’, a tattoo is indelible ink inserted into the dermis skin layer changing the pigment. On humans, it’s mainly for decoration, though may make other significant behavioural statements too, including ownership if the person was a slave; on animals it’s a mark of ownership.
Indigenous peoples of Japan wore facial tattoos, Berbers in North Africa, Arabic peoples in East Turkey and the Inuits join tribes in Borneo, Philippines, North and South America, Cambodia, Borneo, Taiwan in tattooing for religious, defence, fashion/cosmetic, mating or still unknown reasons. In New Zealand’s Maori culture, the human head took markings indicating status, rank, ancestry and abilities: a facial passport id.
The History
An early record of body marking was in the naturalist’s diary, aboard Cook’s ship, Endeavour, in 1769: ‘I shall now mention the way they mark themselves indelibly, each so marked by their humour or disposition’. However, history suggests tattooing was widespread and earlier than that.
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