The History of Tribal Tattoos

Here is an in-depth history of Tribal tattoos that will make some of you more interested in this type of tattoo. Learn about the various roots of tribal designs.

Tribal Tattoo has over 74,000 average monthly searches on Google. That makes it in the top 10 list of most popular tattoos in the US. Tribal designs are dominating the tattoo world to this day. Moreover, it is relevant among newbies and tattoo enthusiasts. However, not many understand or have a good grasp of the history of tribal tattoos.

Today we will talk about the ancient history of tribal tattoo designs and their styles. At Prime tattoo, we have intricate and beautiful-looking tribal designs for you. However, we recommend that you read this guide first. After that, you will be able to decide easier about which tattoo you might want to get.

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Origin of Tribal Tattoos

Things that belong to tribes and where they come from describe tribal. Similarly, tribal tattoos represent tribes and cultures, particularly of the old times. The beginning of the tribal tattoos comes from Otzi the Iceman. Otzi lived in an advanced society for the time for over 5000 years. His body was found in an area between Austria and Italy. His best and most unique feature is that he is covered with 61 tattoos. However, the designs were mostly horizontal and vertical lines.

Research in the field of Paleopathology has found interesting information about plants used by Otzi. The plants and herbs were of medical use and probably used for some type of healing. Moreover, the lines of tattoos line up with acupuncture points of human bodies.

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Mummies around the globe show primitive characteristics of tattoos that date back to various ages. The mummy of Chinchorro Man is the second oldest finding of such tribal inks. This mummy was found in the Northern part of chile and lived from 2563 to 1972 BCE.

Other ancient tattoos have been located in the mummies of Egypt. Those mummies have simple dots designs on the lower abdomen. Moreover, there was a discovery in a preserved body recently. The body had more complex designs made up of multiple loti, animals, and the Wadjet Eye a.k.a The Eye of Horus.  This alleged priestess woman was mummified around 1300 and 1070 BCE.

Various tattooing communities believed that such findings are great for the ethnology behind tattoos. Moreover, Arheaoloogist is keen to understand the symbolic meaning behind the sacred designs found in mummies.

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Tribal Tattoo Artists

Artists used to create an incision on the skin and trace them using charcoal. Moreover, there were no complicated marks. A Kalinga tattooist Whang-Od is one of the most popular ancient tattoo artists. She belongs to mambabatok and is one of the last ones in the Buscalan region of the Philippines. Mambabatok is the art of tattooing that consists of lines, dots, and abstracts.

Another great tattooist is Haivarasly and he is known for his bodysuits. He uses large black shapes that usually end up in his large creations. Victor J Webster is another skillful tattooist of various types of designs including Maori, Native American, Tibetan, etc.

Tribal designs have been growing in popularity since the 1990s. Since then, there are lots of artists who have had keen interests in such tattoo designs. Moreover, the artists fuse their own creativity with folk art. On the other hand, some artists like to stick to the original tribal form.

Igor Kampman, Dmitry Babakhin, and Gerhard Wiesbeck are some tribal artists who put their own creativity into their designs. Oftentimes, it is possible that you incorporate an incorrect tribal design that disrespects respected tribes in some ways. As a result, you can get the help of artists from prime tattoos to help you along the way.

At Prime tattoo, you can expect designs that symbolize cultures, history, and rituals. Tribal artists are able to curate different styles while preserving the roots of ancient traditions. It is important that you understand the history of tribes so that you appreciate their design on your body. At Prime tattoo, you get custom and original tribal designs from our team of experienced artists.

Types of Tribal Tattoos

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Here we will discuss some of the prominent tribal styles

1. Samoan Animal Abstract Style
   

Samoan style attracts both genders and they are one of the most popular styles. Samoan design for males represents protection from wild threats in land and water. Moreover, such designs are inked on the lower part of the male’s body. Samoan tattoo designs for males are also less intricate than female designs. Examples of the Samoan style are Sun Rays, The Marquesan Cross, and Ocean swirls.

1. Maori Face Tattoos
   

The Head is a holy body part of humans according to the culture of Maori. As a result, they draw tattoos on the head, particularly on the face. These tattoos symbolize ranks, social status, and prestige in their hierarchy. Moreover, it represents the eligibility of an individual’s path to their ritual. Maori tattoo artists use chisels and knives to create intricate designs that are unique. As a result, getting a Maori tattoo can be very painful.

1. Celtic Cross and Knots
   

Picts meaning “painted people” is a Celtic tribe from Scotland. This tribe was the last standing tribe before Christianity took over. As a result, the painted inks on people of Picts were considered taboo. Cross and knots are the fundamentals of Celtic tribe tattoos. Moreover, birds and trees also dominate the ancient Celtic designs. Such designs have religious symbols of many beliefs. A great example of a religious Celtic tattoo is the pair of wings.

1. Iban Motifs
   

Iban tattoos are inspired by animals, plants, and humans because the Dayak Iban people believe they provide spiritual energy. Floral Motif designs are commonly found in their culture. Iban Motifs tattoos are placed on the chest, shoulder, or legs. Moreover, they are drawn in large sizes using dark black colors. As a result, it takes up to eight hours to make an Iban tattoo.

1. Eye of Horus
   

The eye of Horus has ancient Egyptian roots and is commonly found in warriors. This tribal tattoo design symbolizes protection from the evil spirit. Moreover, it is also a sign of social status. Only warriors who shed a fair share of blood in the battle could wear the Eye of Horus.

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Conclusion

As you already know, tribal tattoos come in different forms, styles, and sizes. In ancient times, people used to have tattoos that have significant meanings. The symbolic value of these tribal designs is what makes them popular in the modern tattoo world. Every tribe and culture has its own design. By getting such tattoo designs, you will have a sense of respect for the meaning behind the designs that you get.  As a result, you need to choose a tribal design that matches your own beliefs. Browse through the vast library of tribal designs from our team at Prime tattoo.