by Erin Kinter

Created on: May 10, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2009

Body art in almost all its forms has root in mans earliest expressions of himself. Permanently scarring the skin, branding the skin, painting the skin, or placing items ranging from bones to jewelry into the skin are all forms of body art that pre-date recorded history and still exist today. In all its forms it has been either revered as a source of power, protection, status, or even personal history.

It is widely accepted that tattoos have been in existence since around 1200 BC, probably first arising in Asia and the South Pacific among various tribes. These tattoos were mainly placed on the face, as you might be familiar with in the Maori people of the South Pacific and signified marital as well as social status and was used to identify members of different tribes or families.

Although no hard record exists it is strongly believed that European sailors picked up this unusual habit when first beginning major trading with the Orient. Instead of placing these marks on their faces they chose to put them somewhere that conservative people back home could not see unless they wanted them too. Arms, backs and torsos were adorned with family names, women, and symbols of sailing lore such as mermaids and sea beasts. It is most likely because it was "unwholesome" sailors who brought this tradition back from what was considered a "primitive" place that it got the reputation as being a sign of a rebel or trouble maker.

The art of tattooing came to be performed in the backs of pubs and on the docks for many years because of the stigma associated with it. The first official tattoo shop in the history books was founded in London in the mid 1800's. Its patrons consisted mainly of sailors, working men and even prostitutes. These "ladies of the evening" would have crude drawings of sexual acts tattooed on their bodies as a form of advertising what they would and wouldn't do as well as to simply lure in potential customers.

In the 1700's certain European countries had taken to tattooing criminals to either symbolize them as such or to display the nature of the crime committed. Most of the time placing them on the face or neck, so there was little chance of it going unnoticed, they branded these men and women for life even after completing a sentence in prison.

During the course of history other forms of body art stayed subdued for long periods of time. Body piercing was another tradition European sailors picked up, mostly piercing just the ears was the common among them. Again

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