Tattoos (2018)
The oldest tattoo art from ancient Egypt, was found on two mummies from the predynastic period, around 3100 BCE. The tattoos were discovered on a young man and a female referred to as the Gebelein mummies at the British Museum. While “man and woman have similar tattoos” wouldn’t make news under most circumstances, it significantly changes two beliefs about ancient Egypt’s tattoo practices. First, it means tattooing was practiced earlier than previously believed. Second, it means men were tattooed, too. Tattoos had previously been considered a female practice in the predynastic era, often symbolizing fertility or safe childbirth, or marking their roles as healers and priestesses. Conservationists recently conducted a scan of the mummies, and found the tattoos, previously thought to be just a discoloration, during an infrared scan.