Friday, May 18, 2018

Turkey Bones, Shells, and Pigment: Signs of the Oldest Tattoo Kit in the World



About 3,600 years ago, someone decided to bury a collection of sharpened turkey bones and mussel shells. The items were unearthed in 1985 and then forgotten for almost three decades. However, a couple of researchers decided to take another look at the collection a few years back, wondering if the tools were part of a medicine bundle – a sort of portable shrine once used by Native Americans. The form of the bones and traces of black and red pigment showed them a different story – one that has left a mark on the history of tattooing.




Ancient Origins

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