The Rich History of Traditional Tattoos

The practice of tattooing has been around for centuries. Austronesians (who lived over 3000 years ago) would use anything from fish bones to turtle shells to make a sharp point which would then be attached to a wooden handle. Indigenous North Americans saw tattooing as a sacred ritual that brought you closer to your family and the world around you. These markings would often represent milestones in a person's life, it was an honor to be decorated with them.

Tattooing has been both heavily respected and heavily ostracized in different cultures throughout the years. Today, it sits in the middle with more and more people becoming accepting of it.