Tribal Tattoos a Brief History

Tribal tattoos are a popular tattoo choice that can either be abstract or more traditional tattoo design components such as animals, stellar symbols or religious iconography. In popular culture, "tribal" tattoos typically refer to black tattoos of intricate designs that originate in ancient cultural traditions such as Celtic and Sanskrit designs.

History of tribal tattoos

The origin of tattooing dates as far back as the late Stone Age.. For the majority of human history, tribes and societies across most of the world have used tattoos to signify rites of passage, status within tribes, religious devotion, significant life events or accomplishments, and as a mark of respect for the dead. Some ancient examples of tattoos are individuals who had acupuncture points marked on their bodies.

Traditional significance Traditions involving tribal tattoos can be found in North America, most of Europe, Japan, Africa, and the Middle East. In parts of Asia, tattoos were believed to have magical qualities; they were used as permanent talisman against evil spirits and to bring luck to the bearer. In North America, many first nation tribes have used tattoos to indicate status within the tribe, to demonstrate acts of strength or bravery in battle, or to indicate wealth or roles in society.

Inuit tribes used tattoos to ward off evil spirits and to cure disease or sickness. The Wichita tribe tattooed dark circles around the eyes of the men for decoration. In Polynesia, tribal tattoos consisting of complex geometric patterns would be applied in a ritualistic ceremony often lasting several days. In New Zealand, the Maori used facial tattoos to designate social status and occupation. In Hawaii, tribal tattoos were often used to show mourning for a lost loved one. Various cultures such as ancient Rome used tattoos as marks for slaves and to permanently identify criminals. In Borneo, tattoos are used to mark a young man's passage into adulthood when he makes his first kill hunting alone. Japan is a country with a rich history of body art, and one of only a few cultures where tattoos were common amongst women. In ancient Japanese cultures, women would often tattoo themselves to resemble goddesses in order to ward off evil spirits. Young women were also tattooed to mark their place in society and marital status.

Methods

Many ancient tattooing methods involved cutting designs into the skin and rubbing pigment into the wound. Various instruments would be used for creating the design, such as stone chisels or carved animal bone. Other methods involved hand-pricking the skin with sharp objects such as sticks sharpened animal bones or other such tools. The pigment used was often created from ashes, dye sourced from plants, crushed minerals or bones.

Modern Tribal Tattoos

Modern-day tribal tattoos often attempt to reinvent or reintroduce ancient tribal artwork or stylised modern interpretations. These designs often make use of curved lines, swirls, intricate geometric patterns, and knots. Although modern tribal tattoos are sometimes similar in appearance to traditional tribal appearance, they generally have no significant meaning and are usually for decorative purposes only.

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