Researchers Use Lasers to Study Ancient Peruvian Mummies

For more than 5,000 years, humans have covered themselves with permanent artistic designs known as tattoos.

In a recent study, researchers used lasers to uncover highly complex designs of ancient

tattoos on mummies from Peru.

The skin of the mummies and the black liquid, or ink, used to make the tattoos permitted

researchers to observe fine details.

These marks are not visible to the human eye, said study co-writer Michael Pittman of the

Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The researchers examined around 100 mummies dating to around 775 years ago.

The mummies were from coastal Peru's Chonkai culture, which grew and developed before the

Inca Empire and the arrival of Europeans.

All the individuals had some form of tattoos on the back of their hands, knuckles, arms, or other body parts.

The study paid careful attention to four individuals with exceptional tattoos, designs of shapes

such as triangles and diamonds, said Pittman.

It was not clear how the tattoos were created.

But they are of a quality that stands up against the really good electric tattooing of today,

said Aaron Dieter-Wolf of the Tennessee Division of Archaeology.

Dieter-Wolf was not involved in the research.

The study results appeared recently in the publication Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Using lasers that make skin glow, we basically turn skin into a light bulb, said study co-writer

Tom Kay of the nonprofit Foundation for Scientific Advancement, based in Sierra Vista, Arizona.

The findings were helpful to learn about new non-destructive technologies that can help

us study and document sensitive archaeological materials, such as mummies, said Dieter-Wolf.

The oldest known tattoos ever discovered are on the remains of a Neolithic man who lived

in the Italian Alps around 5,000 years ago.

Many mummies from ancient Egypt also have tattoos, as do remains from cultures around the world.

People have used tattooing for many reasons throughout history.

The marks can show cultural or individual identity, social standing, and more.

Tattoos also have been used for protection against disease or to deepen relationships

with spirits or gods, suggested Lars Krutak.

Krutak, who works at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was not involved in the research.

Designs on ancient textile and stone products are more commonly found in good condition

for study than are ancient tattoos.

But ancient tattoos, when studied, can provide information about art forms that would not

otherwise be available, suggested Martin Smith of Bournemouth University.

Smith was not involved in the recent study. I'm John Russell.