Customizing the Body (PDF file) - Print My Tattoo
Customizing the Body (PDF file) - Print My Tattoo Customizing the Body (PDF file) - Print My Tattoo
9 Introduction painful, it is commonly part of rituals of passage designed to display the initiate's courage and endurance (for example. among the Kabre of Togo and Australian aborigines) (see Brain, 1979: 68-81; Vogel. 1983). Thttooing in Ancient and Tribal Cultures· The most ancient and widely employed form of permanent body alteration is tattooing. Archeological eVidence indicates that tattooing was probably practiced among peoples living during the late Stone Age. Carved figures from European sites dated 6,000 years B.C. and Egyptian figurines created some 2,000 years later show facial and body markings thought to represent tattoos. Proof of the antiquity of the practice is derived from the mummified body of a priestess of Hathor (dated 2.000 B.C.) that bears parallel line markings on the stomach thought to have had medicinal or fertility functions. Tattooing in ancient Egypt was confined to women. especially concubines, dancers. and priestesses. Mummified remains bear series of dots and geometric line patterns. Singers and other female entertainers were decorated with the symbol of the goddess Bes. the protectress of women in these roles (Paine. 1979; Levy et al.. 1979; Hambly, 1974 [1925J: 105-108). In 1948 archeologists working at Pazyrykin in Siberia discovered a burial mound constructed by Sythian nomads in the fifth century B.C. A number of well-preserved human remains were found encased by ice, some of which bore intricate black line markings on the arms. legs, and torso. The tattoos were sophisticated animal designs-fish, cats. goats. and sheep-and probably held totemic significance (Paine, 1979: 18; Thevoz, 1984: 21). As early as 2,000 B.C. tattooing spread from the Mideast to the PacifiC Islands by way of India, China. and Japan. Theories of how the diffusion of tattooing into Pacific Island cultures took place vary. It is most probable that the practice was carried by the Ainu. a nomadic caucasian group that now inhabits the northern island of Japan. Samoan explorers may have adopted tattooing after encountering it in their western travels. and introduced it into Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, and the Hawaiian Islands. An alternative explanation of the diffusion holds that the practice was carried to Polynesia and New Zealand by South American explorers in their
10 Introduction western travels. It is certain that tattooing was a feature of Aztec. Inca. and Mayan culture. Extensively tattooed mummified remains dating from the first century A.D. have been found in Peruvian excavations. Whatever its route of diffusion. tattooing was a well-established decorative form by 1,000 B.C. Arguably. the most sophisticated. decorative. and rank-symbolizing tattooing in tribal societies was (and, to a limited degree, still is) practiced by the Maoris of New Zealand. Both males and females were tattooed, but with different designs and in different degrees. Maori women usually received limited moko markings on the lip and chin area. while men carried extensive facial and body tattoos consisting primarily of whorls, geometric patterns. and other non-representational, ornamental designs. The designs were so individual that, following contact with Europeans, they were often used by members of the nobility as signatures on legal documents (see Simmons, 1986). Moko designs were inscribed with a serrated bone or shell adze dipped in pigment made from the oily smoke of burning nut kernels. The design was literally chiseled one-eighth of an inch into the skin as the adze was struck with a mallet. The moko process was extremely painful and surrounded by extensive ritual. The recipient's social contact was severely limited and he or she was forbidden to touch food or items used for food preparation during the course of the process, which commonly lasted several days. Typically, one side of a man's face was decorated when he was young and completed a number of years later. Considerable status was attached to those who were most heavily tattooed. Maori males routinely used mussel shells to shave and tweeze facial hair in order not to cover the moko de Signs. The tattooed heads ("pakipaki") of enemies killed in battle were removed, preserved, and proudly displayed by victorious warriors. while heads that did not carry moko were rudely discarded as "papateas" or "plain-faced ones" (Paine, 1979: 42). The dominant function of tattooing in all tribal societies was to denote the bearer's status or social identity. Commonly, the painful tattoo process was part of the rite of passage to adult status. By stoically undergoing the tattoo ritual, recipients could demonstrate their bravery to the other members of the group. In Borneo.
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10 Introduction<br />
western travels. It is certain that tattooing was a feature of Aztec.<br />
Inca. and Mayan culture. Extensively tattooed mummified remains<br />
dating from <strong>the</strong> first century A.D. have been found in Peruvian<br />
excavations.<br />
Whatever its route of diffusion. tattooing was a well-established<br />
decorative form by 1,000 B.C. Arguably. <strong>the</strong> most sophisticated.<br />
decorative. and rank-symbolizing tattooing in tribal societies was<br />
(and, to a limited degree, still is) practiced by <strong>the</strong> Maoris of New<br />
Zealand. Both males and females were tattooed, but with different<br />
designs and in different degrees. Maori women usually received<br />
limited moko markings on <strong>the</strong> lip and chin area. while men carried<br />
extensive facial and body tattoos consisting primarily of<br />
whorls, geometric patterns. and o<strong>the</strong>r non-representational, ornamental<br />
designs. The designs were so individual that, following<br />
contact with Europeans, <strong>the</strong>y were often used by members of <strong>the</strong><br />
nobility as signatures on legal documents (see Simmons, 1986).<br />
Moko designs were inscribed with a serrated bone or shell adze<br />
dipped in pigment made from <strong>the</strong> oily smoke of burning nut kernels.<br />
The design was literally chiseled one-eighth of an inch into<br />
<strong>the</strong> skin as <strong>the</strong> adze was struck with a mallet. The moko process<br />
was extremely painful and surrounded by extensive ritual. The recipient's<br />
social contact was severely limited and he or she was forbidden<br />
to touch food or items used for food preparation during<br />
<strong>the</strong> course of <strong>the</strong> process, which commonly lasted several days.<br />
Typically, one side of a man's face was decorated when he was<br />
young and completed a number of years later.<br />
Considerable status was attached to those who were most<br />
heavily tattooed. Maori males routinely used mussel shells to<br />
shave and tweeze facial hair in order not to cover <strong>the</strong> moko de<br />
Signs. The tattooed heads ("pakipaki") of enemies killed in battle<br />
were removed, preserved, and proudly displayed by victorious warriors.<br />
while heads that did not carry moko were rudely discarded<br />
as "papateas" or "plain-faced ones" (Paine, 1979: 42).<br />
The dominant function of tattooing in all tribal societies was to<br />
denote <strong>the</strong> bearer's status or social identity. Commonly, <strong>the</strong> painful<br />
tattoo process was part of <strong>the</strong> rite of passage to adult status.<br />
By stoically undergoing <strong>the</strong> tattoo ritual, recipients could demonstrate<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir bravery to <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r members of <strong>the</strong> group. In Borneo.