Overview

• Researchers applied high-resolution near-infrared photography and sub-millimeter 3D modeling to uncover tattoos on a 2,300-year-old female Pazyryk ice mummy that were previously invisible.
• Exposed designs depict dynamic animal fight scenes and mythical creatures including tigers, leopards, deer, griffins, and birds inked with uniform line work.
• Analysis of tool marks distinguishes multipoint and single-point hand-poking implements and reveals overlapping lines from multiple tattoo sessions.
• Quality differences between tattoos on each forearm indicate the involvement of artists with varying skill levels or a single artist’s evolving proficiency.
• Study authors plan to extend these imaging methods to other Pazyryk mummies to deepen knowledge of Iron Age Siberian tattoo craftsmanship and cultural practices.