The origins of North American tattooing
The oldest known physical evidence of tattooing in North America were obtained from the discovery of a frozen, mummified Inuit woman in St. Lawrence. Iceland, Alaska, who had tattoos on her skin. Using tissue radioactive carbon dating, scientists estimated that the woman came from 16th century.
An overview of the materials found at the excavation site points to elements of tattoo bundles dating back to pre-colonial times. The elders could remember the traditional practice of tattooing, which often involved use of needles and thread and sewing the tattoo into the skin by dipping the thread in a mixture of soot and seal oil, or through the skin with a sharp needle tip and dipping it in soot or seal oil.
For our historical journey in the world of tattooing objective, let us stick to the established facts and look at the contours and borders of North America.
The fact of the matter is that what what is now northern Mexico has been inhabited by much older cultures and there is archaeological evidence that proves that tattooing has much older roots in North America.
Incised clay figurines date back as far as the early Archaic period, ca. 5600–5000 BC (Coulam and Schroedl). Ceramic figure from the Case Grandes site in northern Mexico showing body decoration.
These pigment-stained bones are the world's oldest known tattoo tools, says Aaron Deter-Volf. ''They were used for tattooing about 3,620 to 5,520 years ago. “The sharpened turkey bones were found at a dig site in Tennessee called Fernwall. in 1985. The discovery suggests that tattooing traditions in eastern North America goes back at least 1,000 years earlier than previously thought.
The next subculture of the civilization, known as the Chichimecas, migrated from north to central Mexico. The Nahua people considered them less civilized. The Chichimeca apparently did not refer to a specific ethnic group, but rather were hunters or northern peasants unlike the Toltecs, urban populations already living in urban agriculture in the Basin of Mexico. Their arrival occurred just after the
fall of the formerly dominant Mesoamerican civilization, the Toltecs or perhaps helped bring it about.
As the groups united, the Aztecs emerged - their origins are unclear, but they are believed to have begun as a northern tribe of hunter-gatherers, named after their homeland, Aztlan, or "White Land" in Aztec language Nahuatl.
The Aztecs were also known as Tenochka (from which the name of their capital, Tenochtitlan, was derived) or Mexico (the origin of the name of the city that would replace Tenochtitlan, as well as the name of the entire country). The Aztec Empire, which lasted about 200 years, was the last great Mesoamerican state (the region from modern-day north-western Mexico to Central America.
One of the ways they embellished their bodies was tattooing. Although scholars note that the Otomi, Huaxtec, and Mayans used permanent tattoos, they are not sure that Aztecs did, although there are references to the Aztecs getting tattoos during religious ceremonies. It has been suggested that Aztecs had not taken over mass tattooing traditions from cultures that lived before them.
Ceramic stamps have been found that may have been used to make an impression on the skin, but there is no evidence that these impressions later evolved into permanent tattoos. Aztecs continue to keep their secrets :)
Bloody sacrificial rituals and the peculiar cult of the skull have created a legacy of modern art, religion and culture in Mexican culture. Sugar Skull is a testament to this.
A rich body of figurative art shows that these traditions flourished in the following period.
OK! That's how far we are. Let's move on to the Indians, because we have enough evidence for their connection with tattoos. Native American tattoos were rich in symbolism and had deep cultural significance. They served as a visual language, conveying personal and tribal stories. Tattoos marked important turning points in an individual's life, such as the transition from childhood to adulthood. They also indicated tribal affiliation, represented personal achievements, and emphasized specialized skills or roles within the tribe. Tattooing was considered a sacred and spiritual ritual throughout Native American society. Individuals were often marked with protective symbols and guardian spirit emblems. Some groups even attributed healing powers to tattoos and placed them on broken bones and sore joints to promote healing.
American Indian tattoos were applied with pointed, compound and single cactus spine needles. The Opuntia cactus was one of the most common types of cactus used for tattooing and has been documented among at least 9 indigenous peoples of the region. Most cactus spine tattoo tools are multipoint (two or more spines). The skin was punctured, and the design was scratched. The incisions were filled with soot and other natural dyes such as crushed berries, plants and minerals used as ink. American Indians attributed mystical and healing powers to this mixture.
In 1623, Gabriel Sagard was a missionary who wrote: ''But those who paint themselves constantly do so with extreme pain, using for this purpose pricking thorns, with which they pierce the skin, or ppputtts others to pierce the skin. Thus they form on the face, neck, chchchest, or some other part of the body, some animal or monster, such as an eagle, snakakake, dragon, or any other figure they prefer; and then, tracing over the fresh and bloody drawing some powdered charcoal or other black dye, which mingles with blood, and penetrates
into these perforations, they indelibly impress the figures formed upon the living skin''.
The Osage people used tattoos for a variety of reasons. Tattoo designs were based on the belief that humans are part of a larger cycle of life and integrated elements of earth, sky, water and interspace to symbolize these beliefs. Osage men were often tattooed after accomplishing great deeds in battle as a visual and physical reminder of their elevated status in their community. Some Osage women were tattooed in public as a form of prayer, demonstrating strength and dedication to their people.
The spiritual meaning of tattoos went beyond protection. They were also seen as a way to connect with the spirit world. For example, among some tribes tattoos were believed to allow the spirit to recognize the individual in the afterlife. The intricate patterns and symbols etched into the skin served as a spiritual passport, ensuring a smooth journey into the next realm.
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