First Evidence

The earliest solid evidence of tattoos were those that were supplied by tattooed mummies.  They have been recovered from Peru to Nubia and assorted other places worldwide.  Some of the most noteworthy of these mummies have been quite illustrious for not just their tattoos but also for the exceptional condition of their discovery.

Bronze Man Otzi

The Bronze Age man is probably the most renowned of them.  He has come to be renowned as Otzi.  Named for the arctic region in the Alps where he was unveiled.  Otzi is dated as far back as 3300 B.C.E.  His skin showed distinct evidence of darkened blue tattoos in various locations.  These tattoos were groupings of symmetric lines located near the spinal area as well as the ankle joint.  He also showed to have a Cross on the interior of one of his knees.  Though the intention of these marks remain ill-defined.

Parallel Lines of Dots

It has been suggested that they may have served as symbols and as an alternative, that they may have served as therapy for ills that left suggestions on his bones.  A female named Amunet who was a priestess of the deity of Hathor at Thebes from the 21st Dynasty of Egypt (2160-1994 V.C.E.) was tattooed with parallel lines of dots.  These tattoos appeared on top of her arms but most appeared on her stomach.  They were arched and oval lines below the navel.  These designs were considered as being sultry.

Wandering Horsemen

A civilization known as the Pazyryk, which is a group of wandering horsemen, warriors and hunters who lived in the plain regions from the second to the sixth centuries B.C.E., were some of the most dramatic tattooed mummies.  The most exceptional was a man who was defined as a chief.  He was accompanied by opulent grave goods that were intricately and abundantly tattooed with a number of fancy animals and also realist ones that included, deer, rams and fish.  He did however have some moon like tattoos along his backbone that were strangely remindful of those of Otzi and may have been therapeutic in nature.

Siberian Plateau

Also separate but quite akin was the entombment of a young woman of this civilization that was ascertained on the Siberian plateau.  She was also attended by decorated items of outstanding workmanship.  On her arms she was tattooed with similar types of designs.  The variety in these few early examples hints at the myriad tattoo images found today in our culture.

Symbolically Charged Tattoos

Though the function of the tattoos is unknown they are varying and at least some of them are extremely charged symbolically.  Abstract designs consisted of a collection of dots and lines are some of the earliest tattoos preserved on human skin.  They largely represent images of animals.

Animal Tattoos

Even today it comes as no surprise that animal tattoos are the most popular type.  More recent evidence can be detected from the development of tattoos in nearly all regions of the world.  Particularly one of the most famous and earliest finds of Western culture with the tattoo were located in Polynesia.

Looking for tattoo design flash? Check out Chopper Tattoo