Let’s chat about the oldest known tattoos. In the blog post previous to this one, we discussed Otzi The Iceman. A ice mummy from the Alps with 57 tattoos that are theorized to be early examples of acupuncture, and the first evidence of applying permanent pigment to the skin with incisions.

While Otzi holds the title of oldest tattoo, the Gebelein Mummies get recognition for having the first recorded tattoos with animal images and designs. The difference here is Otzi’s tattoos are theorized to be medicinal rather that aesthetic adornments like the latter.

What a better place to start our tattoo journey through time than with Otzi the Iceman. He hails from the Copper Age, and he is one of the only pieces of evidence from then with that extent of preservation. Significantly, Otzi and his tattoos are older than the Pyramids.

I studied Anthropology at Beloit College in Wisconsin. I plan on combining my passions of anthropology and art here. If you’re interested in cross-cultural examinations and looking at rad tattoos from across time and space, you’ve come to the right place.