Egypt or Nubia - In which ancient culture territory was tattooed first tattoo?
Archaeological evidence suggests that human settlements in Nubia occurred as early as the Late Pleistocene era and from the 5th millennium BC, whereas there is no "evidence or is negligible" of human presence in Egypt's Nile Valley during those periods, the Nile River covering the area between the Nile's first the cataract (south of Aswan) and in southern Egypt. The confluence of the Blue and White Niles (at Khartoum in central Sudan) or more precisely Al Dabbah.
Here was the site of one of the oldest civilizations of ancient Africa, the Kermas culture that existed from about 2500 years BC until the conquest of Egypt's New Kingdom under Pharaoh Thutmose I around 1500 BC, whose heirs ruled most of Nubia's part for the next 400 years. Nubia was home to several empires, the most notable of which was the Kingdom of Kush, which conquered Egypt in the eighth century B.C.E. during the reign of Pius and ruled the country as its 25th dynasty. This complexity, expressed by different levels of power in society, may have formed the basis for the structure of both Nabta neolithic society and the Old Kingdom of Egypt.
Interesting fact. In all cases, tattoos found on Egyptian mummies have been applied to the mummified bodies of women. Their motifs usually consisted of lines or dots. Creating geometric patterns along the palms, arms, thighs, torso. Most scientists adhere to the theory that tattoos found on the three mummies from Deir el Bahri are an example of the Nubian tattooing tradition.
Currently, there is only one mummified male body on which a tattoo was found. The fact is that in the predynastic era, the Egyptians had not yet begun the process of embalming bodies. Instead, the bodies were naturally mummified by the sand in which they were buried. The heat and dryness of the desert dried and preserved their skin and hair.
However, over time, this process changes the color of the skin and darkens it, making it impossible to see the tattoos with the naked eye. Thanks to new technologies, only recently on two mummies that have been stored by the British Museum since 1900, body art works were discovered. Using infrared imaging and radiocarbon dating, scientists have been able to identify tattoos on two Gebelein mummies, dated from 3351 to 3017 B.C.E. They are believed to be the earliest figurative tattoos ever seen on human skin, and they depict images and figures. These tattoos according to scientists, are part of the Nubian cultural traditions.
The male body has an image of the wild bull, which is known to reflect masculinity and status, and the wild goat, which is a difficult to hunt, even for a good hunter.
On the other hand, the symbols on the woman's mummified body resemble the modern letter S - the meaning of these symbols remains a mystery even today.
Ancient Egyptian artwork is highly symbolic, and their belief in both religion and magic is evident in their body art. Although the early tattoos were quite simplified. The other discovered in Deir el-Medina female mummy had around thirty tattoos! In particular, they included the hieroglyphs of Nefer and the Eye of Horus, on her throat, shoulders and back.
Anne Austin of Missouri University explained that: "The purpose of tattooing in public areas of the body, was to permanently mark the woman as associated with religious worship... from any angle, when you look at this woman, the divine couple, the eyes look back." Therefore, this woman most likely played an important religious role during her life''.
Near these mummy burial sites have been identified a number of potential tattooing tools. At the end of the nineteenth century, the British archaeologist V.M. Flinders Petrie found a set of seven bronze dots along with other cosmetic items at Guroba. These tools were made from bronze rectangles, with the corners hammered out to create a sharp tip. Some were tied together to form a sort of tattoo 'brush'. Although not hollow or refined like modern tattoo needles, these points may have been used as old-fashioned ink pens.
P.S. - Today's Egyptian reflection and traditions in tattoos is symbolic. There is no evidence on the mummies of the pharaohs, that would testify the relevance of tattoos in ancient Egypt among the higher or lower classes of people. Rather, these tattoos were a priority for priests and spiritual leaders and were more concerned for female representatives. In addition, should be distinguished African culture the Nubian traditions, where tattooing was an ancient culture's integral part between both genders.