A tattoo is
a marking made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the
skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of
decorative body modification, while tattoos on animals are most commonly
used for identification purposes. The first written reference to the
word, "tattoo" (or Samoan "Tatau") appears in the journal of Joseph
Banks, the naturalist aboard Captain Cook's ship the HMS Endeavour in 1769: "I shall now mention the way they mark themselves indelibly, each of them is so marked by their humor or disposition".
Tattooing
has been practiced for centuries worldwide. The Ainu, the indigenous
people of Japan, traditionally had facial tattoos. Today one can
find Berbers of Tamazgha (North Africa), Māori of New Zealand, Hausa
people of Northern Nigeria, Arabic people in East-Turkey and Atayal of
Taiwan with facial tattoos. Tattooing was widespread
amongPolynesian peoples and among certain tribal groups in
the Taiwan, Philippines, Borneo, Mentawai Islands, Africa, North
America, South America, Mesoamerica, Europe, Japan, Cambodia, New
Zealand and Micronesia. Despite some taboos surrounding tattooing, the
art continues to be popular in many parts of the world.
