History Of Tattoos

We break down the ever-changing art form, and look at how it spread across the world and was interpreted by different cultures in different eras

Ancient ink to modern markings

To many the art of the tattoo may appear to be a wholly modern phenomena. However, that is far from the truth. We have evidence of preserved skin in some cultures dating back to 6000 BCE in South America and tattooing equipment from some 60,000 years ago. It would seem that the practice of marking human skin with pigments, whether for artistic

and personal expression or to identify a person in some manner, has been going on for many, many years. It’s still extremely popular today: it’s estimated that around 10 per cent of people in the UK and US have tattoos.

Given that there is more to the history of tattooing than meets the eye we thought we would take a look back over its long history and mark some important moments of transition and evolution. Where and how did this art begin and what are the meanings behind the art? Where have different recurring styles and meanings come from and how has the art of tattooing grown and diminished over the years? Join us on a journey around the world and through time as we discover some of the secrets behind body art and how it has developed through the millennia.