Article  Tribal Tattoos Possess Rich History Today’s tribal tattoos have roots that go back thousands of years. Tribal tattoos are one of the most popular styles of tattoo you can get, with people of all ages getting these distinctive tattoos. Today there are literally thousands of variations on tribal tattoos available, including contemporary styles that integrate these ancient patterns into more modern body art. The term “tribal” is applied today to any tattoo that features symmetrical shapes, often with jagged edges or swirls, done in black ink. Strictly speaking, some of these aren’t authentic tribal tattoos, but they do have the look and feel of the originals. People love them for their sharply defined lines and high contrast against the skin as well as their elegant simplicity. Tribal tattoos are the oldest form of body art known. There are over one hundred different cultures that feature some form of traditional tribal tattoos. The earliest evidence of them is found on Egyptian mummies, some of them 5,000 years old. Priestesses of the various Egyptian gods, high ranking officials and royalty were usually tattooed with various representations of their heritage and their gods. The style, use and meaning of these tattoos vary across cultures. In Papua New Guinea, aboriginal girls were tattooed elaborately beginning at the age of about 6. The markings were considered a sign of beauty and an elaborate ceremony surrounded the ritual tattooing of girls up until they married, after which no more tattoos were allowed. Interestingly, men in Papua rarely had any tattoos at all. In Mozambique, a small tribe of Bantu-speaking natives known as the Makonde also used extremely elaborate tribal tattoos to decorate their bodies. They used a method that is similar to tattooing but is more accurately a form of scarring. The skin is cut and raised slightly with a sharp blade and ashes, and soil or sand is rubbed underneath to cause a raised scar. These can be seen more easily on dark skin and can also be felt. On the other side of the world, Japan and the Polynesian peoples also prized tribal tattoos. The Japanese Ainu people tattooed their women in order to protect them from evil spirits. For many years, these tattoos were expected on any marriageable woman, but the practice has died out in the last century. Polynesians, however, still place a high value on traditional tribal tattoos, which are elaborate and beautifully done. The tattoos are used to represent the presence of the wearer’s life force or spirit. The Maori people have some of the most recognizable and artistic tribal tattoos in the world, often covering their faces as well as their bodies. In Hawaii, the tattoos are called “Kakau” and feature stylized natural images such as reeds and branches. The Celts, whose descendants now live in England, Ireland and Wales, also tattooed their bodies, but used woad dye to rub into the pinpricks made on the skin. This left tribal tattoos that were a deep blue in color. The Celts favored spirals, braids and interlocking knots that resembled the images they used in art and manuscripts of the time to represent the cycle of life and its many avenues. Most American Indian tribes also prized tribal tattoos. You can easily distinguish one tribe from another based on the tattoos on the individuals in each tribe. One of the most distinctive styles of tattooing was done by the tribes of the Pacific Northwest, where tattoos reflect the stylized images found on totem poles. These gorgeous works of body art often feature geometric representations of wildlife such as orcas and elk. Today, many people get modern versions of tribal tattoos based on how they look. But if you want a more authentic tattoo with some significance to you, do a bit of research into your heritage and consider a tribal tattoo that is symbolic and linked to your background. If you do, you’ll be able to explain their meaning to others who admire your beautiful tribal tattoos. Category Society Author WOA Member Add To Favorites Print This Article Email Article To A Friend Post Comments   Rate This Article (1) 1 - Poor2345 - Good678910 - Excellent Added On 19 May 2009