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15h ago

High-Resolution Imaging Reveals Sophisticated Tattoo Craft on Siberian Ice Mummy

Submillimeter near-infrared scans reveal how specialized artisans hand-poked carbon pigments into ornate animal and mythical motifs

Close-up high-resolution photograph of the tattoos on one forearm. A cut made when preparing the individual for burial runs through the tattoos, indicating tattoos did not play a specific role in funerary rituals. Credit: G. Caspari & M. Vavulin
A selection of tattoos found on the mummy.
A 3D model of the mummy.
A reconstruction of a tattoo of a horse-like creature.

Overview

  • Researchers used submillimeter-resolution near-infrared photography and 3D scanning to document tattoos on a 2,000–2,500-year-old Pazyryk ice mummy
  • The tattoos depict detailed animal fight scenes and mythical figures inked on a 50-year-old woman’s forearms
  • Analysis indicates artisans employed both multipoint bundles and finer single-point hand-poking tools with carbon-based inks
  • Contrasting detail between the right and left forearm suggests multiple sessions or differing levels of tattooer expertise
  • Postmortem cuts through many tattoos during embalming imply the designs held significance in life but were not meant for the afterlife